T.M.I

Connie: Well! Last week Jenny told Anne that she knew about the affair with Robert!
Stylist: Who is Robert having the affair with?
Connie: Oh, some tramp!
Stylist: That "tramp" is my BFF!
Lesson: We, as stylist, love to share stories with our loyal and most devoted guests but caution is always the better part of modesty.

It takes a village

Okay, so they say it takes a village to raise a child to be a productive and effective part of that village. Why then does the village get upset when a villager tries to correct the child?

Its all in the wrist

I have heard some really interesting stories in my day but the one I heard the other day almost made me cry it was so funny.
A woman is explaining to me that she and her husband had a horrible fight and she was so angry. I politely asked what had happened and she said her husband stood behind her for 10 minutes telling her how to cook.
"Honey, if you want that gravy to be creamy you will need to lower the temperature on the flame and watch how you grind the peppers, they need to be small enough. Would you look at the way you are whisking those eggs, they will never work.", he said.
"What are you doing? she exclaimed.
To which he replied, "I am just letting you know how I feel when you are riding with me in the car".

Tried and True

"It's been four weeks since my last color, lets do the same".
The "same" what? Tried and true color that you are expected to show up with at work on Monday?
Rethink the normal and ask your stylist to push the envelope and ideas of color. Simple thought; "hey, my color looks great (if that applies) but its boring. What can we do to make it stand out"?
A good stylist will embrace this and give you the color you want, need, and are paying for.

Establishing a home

Moving can be a challenge for stylists and their clients. It takes months, if not years, to establish trusting relationships with a stylist you are happy with. Conversely, it is the same for a stylist and their new salon. My advise, enter a new relationship with kid gloves. The stylist is just as "new" to it as you are. Be kind, be understanding, and remember.......they are in the same boat as you.

Color by numbers

Okay, so you have the color you want in mind and you are armed with the information you need because you read it in a hair magazine.
"I want this level 4 brown and if you ad a little 5R or 6R to change the reflection.....". STOP!
Its always important to have an idea of what you want but spouting off instructions to your stylist may result in some unexpected colors. The hair industry has dozens of manufactures of colors and one company's 4 may be another's 2 some company's us "R" for copper, NOT red.
Take a picture and an idea. Let your stylist work his/her magic while you enjoy a mimosa, tea, hand massage, and the trashy mags we all love to read while at the salon.

Taking No for an answer

There comes a time in all of our lives that we do or want to do something that everyone else has an opinion on. We fight it, justify it, qualify it, and make the argument "for" whatever it is we want to do and nobody will stop us.
So when a gorgeous red head walks into the salon and tells me she wants to be platinum blonde......I have to let her down easy. This is a time when a stylist should take the time and explain skin tone, eye color, and more than anything else maintenance. Taking no for an answer can sometimes be the best answer anyone can give, especially someone who has the experience. Maybe try lightening some of the hair with highlights and brighten it up softly. There is more than one way to get a new look and style.

Hair in my soup

Etiquette for the women who like to flip hair and run their fingers through their hair at restaurants. We (most people) loose about 200-300 strands of hair a day. Think of the hair in the shower....that's what you randomly expose helpless people to when you are flipping and brushing your hair at restaurants. Imagine a man standing over your plate of noodles rubbing his head of hair. Ugh, right?
Stop doing your hair while in the restaurant. It's just good manners.

Chair and chair alike

It's happened! You have been recommended to a salon by your spouse, partner, EFTGBS(?). You really like the place and the stylist but she/he is not available the next time. You see someone else....NOT THE SAME. This person has a different style, attitude, and talks about himself/herself the entire time! Ugh!
Simple solutions. When going to the salon, watch other stylists and know who they are. The other thing is to prebook that appt.

Women with dogs

"Maxwell"! "Maxwell"! "Maxwell"! The woman screams at her unleashed and out of control dog. This was going to be a good morning with a quite walk along the Marin Headlands but the quite is shattered by the screaming commands of this woman.
Life teaches us many lessons and this is my lesson. Where there are woman with dogs off leash there will never be a quite moment.

Little known fact

We try to show you ways to make hair easy to care for and style. It's our job to make sure you have the tools you need to make those tasks effortless. It is not our job to sell you anything. We take great pride in the products we endorse and suggest. Listen to what we have to say with more open minds.

The chairs have ears

It's rare that I feel the need to enlighten guests on etiquette matters in the salon because usually one finds a place that they can feel comfortable enough to express their thoughts comfortably.
It is election season though and rule, number one, for all men in a salon: Never speak of politics, no matter what!

Shades of graying...

Just for men can take care of some of the gray but what about the red, brassy, fake appearance you get after a week? Ask your stylist to explain the different types of color available. You might find the right combination and the right amount of gray coverage suited just for you.

Know your stuff

Today I had a guest use the word "highlight" as she described what she wanted to do with her hair color.
Highlights and highlighting can mean many things and sometimes it's just knowing what you want. Tell your stylist the look, the effect, or what your expectations are and let him/ or decide what technique to use to get there.

PSA: How do I behave on a bus

I've been in love with only one city in my adult life. It's San Francisco and everything that comes with it. The noise, the parks, the bums, and the neighborhoods.
Just a little advise to the riders of mass transit. Always have the fare you need on you when you board, always know where you are going, and remember that there are other people besides you so be polite.
Tourists need to be reminded that it's our choice of travel, not a tourist ride.

Is it really that important?

Okay guys, this is a simple answer to a simple question. Yes, it's important to always have the hair around your ears and neck trimmed. Most stylist will make sure you are clean all the time with simple maintenance trims. Take advantage of this free service and always know that when you are doing what you do best you always look your best.

How many strokes....

While working with one of my favorite clients I noticed him counting the times and the way I ran the product through his hair while styling. When he repeated the dispense, apply, style I noticed he was again counting. I asked what he was doing and he said he wanted to do what I had done.

Gentlemen, there are no steps to properly "doing" your hair. The idea behind most hairstyles is the ease of doing it. We have so many other things to do in the day, your hair should be the least amount of time you spend during the day. The less your hair looks "done" the sexier it looks.

Aspects of Love

I seem to recall a song that mentioned "honesty" as it's theme and how hard it was to use the word. From where I stand believe me, honesty is the lost word in love and relationships.
So many of the stories people share with me would have such happier endings if people would just be honest with each other.

It's not a game

I was on the phone with my mother and she was telling me about her new color. Immediately I asked if she purchased the right shampoo and conditioner for color treated hair.
"Oh honey, I don't buy that over priced stuff they recommend. The mark up is crazy and I get it for less at (insert box store name here)"!
The markup at a salon is no more than another store. The salon you visit had spent countless hours, training, and money to carry the brand they like. They use it because it works and trust me, a true salon product is used correctly lasts longer and is better for your hair than discount store items.

How to choose your stylist

Recently I've noticed that there are hundreds of people looking to the Internet for their stylist based on what they read on sites like Yelp, Google, and City Search. I questioned the process with one of my regular guests and found that there are a few questions one should ask when choosing the right stylist.
Do they have a Pintrist account? If they do, look at the images they post. What do they find interesting and do you share those interests.
Are the posts or yelps informative or simple narrations of the stylists personality?
When you call, how easy or hard is it to get the stylist you want?
If you like the Pintrist posts, the yelps describe the service and end result you seek, and lastly....it doesn't matter how long they have been doing hair (if they are talented, they had that talent along time) it's whether they will listen tonyoi or not. Consultations are usually free so make the appointment.

It's not you, it's your attitude.

There comes a time in everybody's life when a separation is the only answer. When two people work through a rough spot without doubt, it works. When one person is willing to work and another is not, it's time to separate.
Don't let an ego or attitude cause a break with your stylist....especially if you like him/her. Work on it. You will never regret it.

Really?

A very handsome male client asks, "what can I do to make my hair look 'less done'"?
Guys, here's how you do it so it doesn't look done.
1. Put your styling product in your hair.
(your stylist/ barber/ girlfriend/ boyfriend will have a suggestion)
2. Rub hands together, apply to hair, rough up the hair and there you are.
The key is to look like you don't care enough to care....
Have fun!