August 2017
Get Your Salon Business Organized Before the Summer Ends By Erica Brooke Fajge
It’s already August. Fall is right around the corner, and the slow, leisurely days of summer will soon come to an end. You know what that means: the “back-to-school” buzz begins. You also know what this time of year means for your business: more customers, more appointments, more everything, pretty much. Which is why now is the perfect time to start getting organized. Because if you wait too long, you’ll wind up scrambling to get organized at the last minute, just when the fall rush begins, and you know that probably isn’t the best idea. So, here are three easy tips to help you get your act together before the busy back-to-school season begins. read more>
Curious About What Is In Your Cosmetics Products?
The term “cosmetics” includes a wide variety of personal care products used at the salon and at home, by women, men and children. Cosmetics contain many different chemical ingredients, including some that are known or suspected to cause cancer or harm to the reproductive system or to a developing fetus. Some salon workers and consumers are surprised to find out cosmetics are minimally regulated by government agencies. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has no authority to require safety testing of cosmetics, and there is no approval process for cosmetic products prior to sell in the U.S. Ingredients are not required to be listed on the label of professional salon products. Although a Safety Data Sheet must be available for any product containing a hazardous ingredient, they may be difficult to obtain and understand, or may not include accurate, up-to-date information. Introducing the California Safe Cosmetics Program... read more>
Finding Quality and Affordable Education by Jon Gonzales
“Live as if you were to die tomorrow, learn as if you were to live forever.” – Gandhi — Finding quality and affordable education in the beauty profession is becoming increasingly difficult. In my opinion 90 percent of education in the beauty profession is focused on the needs of product companies seeking to brand their name or products. Yes retail is important, but more and more of these product companies urge us to sell their products to the consumer only to see these same products sold at cheaper discount at WalMart. In short, they don’t read more>
August 2017
Beauty Professional Fred Jones
Industry Certification Tops Continuing Education — Ever since my organization was formed nearly two decades ago, I have heard many in our industry clamoring for mandatory continuing education. I think their motivation is simple and pure: to raise the professionalism of our industry. Given this is the sole mission of my organization, shouldn’t that be enough for my federation to embrace the call for mandatory education in the largest state in the Union (with nearly a half-million individuals licensed by our State Board)? Well, the answer to that rhetorical question reminds me of the quip: read more>
Better Business Neil Ducoff
How to Make Money in an Employee-Based Salon — Why would anyone open a salon, spa or medspa if it can’t make money? -- especially when they’re notorious for operating at low single digit profits or losing money and plagued by staff walkouts. It’s also true many service provider owners wouldn’t get a paycheck if they weren’t working behind the chair or in the treatment room. In fact, many owners realize they could make more money as employees in their business, working on the very compensation system they designed. The true, but sobering, news is that when any business struggles to pay bills and create profit … read more>
Beyond your Chair Jayne Morehouse
Education Is a Two-Way Street Between You and Your Clients — This issue of The Stylist is packed with great ideas about education for the sake of learning, education to feed your passions and education to expand your skills. What I’m going to discuss is education that DIRECTLY and IMMEDIATELY leads to happier clients, increased referrals and retention, and more money in your paycheck. Meaningful education starts with your clients. Let them tell you what they need, and then return the favor with all of the answers they’re seeking. For example, read more>
Mane Objective Marco Pelusi
One BIG Secret to Success? Never Stop Learning. — Cosmetology school prepares us for a lot in our careers, specifically that state board exam we must all take. However, while school is important, there simply isn’t enough time for school to each us all the skills we must know to succeed. Newly licensed cosmetologists need to find ways to immediately gain more education upon graduating, so they can cultivate their own style and competitive edge. For those of us who have been in the business for a long time, education is key to refreshing our perspective. Our hair work can get stale and repetitious if we don’t keep learning about the latest techniques, products and trends.read more>
Mission: Business Beautiful Ali Davidson
It Was A Fabulous Class! Now What? — It has happened to all of us. You attend a class, something you’ve been looking forward to for weeks. It took some sacrifice to attend in the form of money, hours away from taking clients, or time away from family, but you just knew it was going to be worth it. The educator came with high reviews and the subject matter was something you’d been craving help to master. You were so ready for this class. And the class did NOT disappoint. The educator kept you on the edge of your seat and every word they said rang so true to your business it was like they were reading your mind. “Ah-ha” moments were competing for attention as they overlapped and you could hardly take notes fast enough. read more>
Nail Extension Elizabeth Morris
Wash One Dish and Put it Away — Do you remember the funny movies where the lead character has a decision to make and there is an angel on one shoulder and the devil on the other? As an entrepreneur, you likely have the “doubt” fairy on one shoulder and the “fear” fairy on the other. You likely get stranded because fear paralyzes your next move. Good news – there are ways to trick yourself into doing what will gain you success and help you move forward. read more>
Window into Wellness Natasha Bhalla
Staying Sharp Means Staying Young — The Link between Education and a Youthful Brain Looking and feeling young doesn’t just pertain to our skin, hair and general beauty regiments. Youthfulness starts in the brain, and continuous learning is one of the best anti-aging methods available. While industry professionals are the gatekeepers of beauty, radiance and anti-aging secrets, one thing we don’t often discuss is the link between a healthy, alert brain and youthfulness. read more>
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