What's New

by Kristen Cantrell

Everyone wants to know the hottest trends, and this fall the trend is texture and volume. Simply look around and all you'll see is waves: big, flowing and always flattering! As the hottest hair trend this season, Kevin.Murphy and his new Anti.Gravity Spray has positioned itself at the forefront of fashion in setting these fabulous styles.

The new Anti.Gravity Spray is one of the most amazing products to work with when creating big, voluptuous styles. Its lightweight feel and amazing shine make every client look as if they just walked off the page of a magazine.

Anti.Gravity.Spray is not your average style setter, either. As with all Kevin.Murphy products, it protects against heat damage up to 430 degrees. This makes it an asset to any stylists who uses and abuses their tresses with heat, and let's face it that's pretty much every hairdresser on the planet!

The ease of use of this product makes it ideal for clients, too. Just spray into damp hair, comb through and style as desired. You can't get any easier than that! And Anti.Gravity.Spray when sprayed at the root makes the ultimate root booster. When you use this multi-functional product behind the chair, everyone wins. You'll not only get the sale, but your client will love you for it!

So when your clients sit in your chair and ask the inevitable "What's new?" you can answer, "I have the most fantastic thing to show you! Meet Kevin. Murphy."

What's In Hair ColorTrends

by Angela Frizell

As the hottest haircolor trends begin emerging for fall 2011, unleash your inner creativity! Warm up your inventory for fall and winter by preparing for deep reds, warm blonde tones and rich browns.

This fall, adventurous divas are demanding intense, vibrant shades of red that range from timid strawberry to deep mahogany. Access your inner hair color expertise by imitating nature and the warm glow of sun.

Blondes are warming up their bleached locks with more strawberry tones and coppery blondes. Mix in a touch of red for warmth or add low-lights in warmer tones for a golden, honey tone. A hint of red can help blonde shades more healthy by adding pigment instead of stripping out color.

The hottest color of the season is brunette. Access your creativity and use the sensual colors of fall to enhance the tempting force of our colorful nature. 

Whether enhancing natural color or adding radiant and vibrant shades to create a whole new look for your client, Salon Service Group has the tools you need to boost sales and make your clients into walking advertisements for your salon. Want to learn more color techniques? Visit our fall class schedule.

The Easy Way to Increase Retail Sales

by Kelly Brazil

As stylists, we sell our skills and expertise to clients, but our fear of high-pressure tactics can stop us from making extra money with retail. We know the products best suited for our clients, and they look to us to create the look they desire. Don’t let your client attempt to duplicate the look created in your chair without your help. Ensure your clients’ hair success with a consultation session and product recommendations.

A good client consultation starts with knowing the right questions. The answers they give not only help you make professional recommendations, but they position you as their beauty partner. Consider the following when developing a consultation:

1. Lifestyle: Discover his or her beauty routine, business type and hobbies.
2. Physical Wellbeing: Protect his or her investment as medication and hormonal changes can greatly affect the outcome of chemical services.
3. Hair Satisfaction: Understanding personal hair challenges can help you make recommendations.
4. Personal Belief of Hair Health: Begin the dialogue for the importance of right shampoo, conditioner, protection, tools, and treatments.
5. Current Product/Tool Use: Dissatisfaction with hair performance could stem from use of the wrong product.
6. Last Service: Hair can become more damaged if over-processed. Encourage your client to share the time of year of the last chemical service to ensure the proper time-line.
7. Upcoming Events or Style Preferences: Make no room for remorse. Be clear on time commitments of styles and services.

To begin the consultation, make the client comfortable by sitting with him or her. When you’ve finished, repeat what you heard before beginning services. At the shampoo bowl, tell her why you selected the backbar items you used. While styling, share the service experience by letting the client see, touch and smell the products. This will build the client’s confidence in using the product outside of the salon.

When the service is over, simply walk your guest to the reception desk and place the recommended products on the counter. If he or she is hesitant, provide a product sample in a take home container. This will give the client a risk-free way to use your products at home and keep her from purchasing low-quality knock-offs.

Taking the time for consultations with new and existing clients keep them coming back for new services and recommendations. In fact, research shows that guests who purchase a product in-salon are 70% more likely to return for a future visit. Though an excellent consultation takes practice, retailing products can be a major portion of your income.

The Buzz on Sulfates

by Selena Schaefer

The products you use in your salon every day may contain sulfates which can be harmful to your health. Both Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and its close relative Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) are commonly used in soaps, shampoos, detergents and other cleansing products to create suds or foam. The sodium lauryl sulfate found in our soaps is exactly the same as you would find in a car wash or even a garage where it is used to degrease car engines.

In the same way it dissolves the grease on car engines, SLS dissolves the oils on your skin, making the skin dry, irritated and flaky. It also deteriorates skin proteins, which causes not only irritation, but also allows environmental contaminants easier access to the lower, sensitive layers of skin.

Perhaps most worryingly, SLS is also absorbed into the body from skin application. Once it has been absorbed, one of the main effects of sodium lauryl sulfate is to mimic the activity of the hormone Oestrogen. This has many health implications and may be responsible for a variety of health problems from PMS and Menopausal symptoms to dropping male fertility and increasing female cancers such as breast cancer, where oestrogen levels are known to be involved.

So why is a dangerous chemical like sodium lauryl sulfate used in our soaps and shampoos? The answer is simple – it is cheap. The good news is that many professional salon products are developed without the use of sulfates. Salon Service Group has sulfate free haircare products in most of our haircare lines. If you are uncertain about the sulfate content of your product lines, please contact your salon partner or customer service for ingredient information. 

The Man Files

by Babette Rickett

There was a time when men only cared if they had hair on their head. They still do, but now they also care about how it looks. Men’s styling lines are exploding onto the scene, and as a stylist you should be ready to capitalize the market. Selling to men is different than selling to women, but not by much.

When selling product to a male client, remember, men are solution seekers. That’s just how their minds work. So, telling him about the scent or the packaging isn’t going to close the deal. You need to present the product as a solution to his unique hair problem.

Start the appointment by asking him what he likes/dislikes about his hair or if he has any problems with it. Getting this information up front will help you determine the best product for his hair needs.

While styling his hair, hand him the product you’re using so he can look over the packaging and size-up the product. This is also important because it will establish ownership. As you apply the product, tell them how to use it. If he’s unsure about how to use the product at home, he won’t buy it.

Getting the product into his hands is the most important thing. When he uses it at home he will think of you. It sounds corny, but it’s true. He’ll remember the positive experience he had with you and will be more likely to return for another service. So, selling him product not only increases your sales but also creates a returning client.

More Money, Same Bookings

by Shane Hanson

Face it, some stylists are just more successful. It's not luck that gets them success, though. It's because these people actively seek and take advantage of every opportunity. I challenge you and your entire salon staff to look at every booking as a new opportunity for success. Take the following scenario for instance:

9:00 Sarah Haircut $40
10:30 Carol Color $70
11:00 Marilyn Cut & Color $70
1:00 Connie Haircut $40
2:00 John Haircut $ 25
3:00 Monica Keratin Treatment $300
5:30 Tara Haircut/Express Blowout $140

Day's Total Projected Sales: $725

Daily Goal: $900

Start your day by evaluating your book. If your service revenue goal for the day is $900, and you do the math and only see $725, it's time to get proactive!

Sarah is 26 yrs old, doesn't color her hair, but is a good cut and styling client. She doesn't color her hair because nobody has ever talked to her about her options. Today is the day for you to initiate that conversation. Pick out a few pictures from magazines. Share with her how you were thinking about her and how similar colors would suit her for the season.
Result: extra $50

Connie is going on a trip next week to Florida. Since she fights the frizz, recommend an Express Blowout Treatment for her. Call her right now and let her know you were thinking about her. Ask if she has 20 extra minutes for a service that she'll love.
Result: extra $100

Everyone takes guys for granted right? Well not you and not today. John is only 35, but is graying pretty rapidly. Talk to John about your First Timer's Gray Blending Special for only $25. Show him some before and after pictures to let him see the difference a little color can make.
Result: extra $25

These were a few opportunities I saw in this booking scenario. Did you see others? Can you find opportunities in your own book? Opportunities really are everywhere. Those who ACTIVELY look for them and act decisively when they find them will reap the financial rewards, while those who don’t, well, they won't. Do something different today! Email me to let me know how it goes.

Shane Hanson, VP Salon Service Group