Education equals Excellence

I've said it before and I'll say it again:
Continuing Education is your only sustainable advantage that sets you apart from your competition.

In the Beauty Industry (and other Industry's as well) technology moves us at the speed of light. We must put forth the effort to grow with it or be left behind! 

Years ago, I worked along side a very talented, successful & professional Stylist.
I admired her business skills and the way she worked with her clients. I looked up to her as a leader & a role-model. Yet I noticed that her client base was very small and her book was wide-open most of the time. I couldn't understand why, so I chalked it up to her management duties. Until one afternoon, when the salon was all buzzed up about an upcoming International Beauty Show in NYC, I listened in on a conversation my "role-model" was having with her guest.
The client had asked her if she too was going to go to the this upcoming show and her response was this, "There's no way I'm spending my money on a ticket into a building to shop for the same things I can buy at the supply store!" 
I blacked out after that! That was the quote I took away from our years together. It bypassed all the wonderful things I knew of this stylist and suddenly her wide-open appointment book made all the sense in the world to me!

When you're green, you're growing! When you're ripe, you rot.

Trade show's are not glorified shopping trips! They are bountiful educational experiences that put you directly in front of what's happened yesterday, what's going on today, and what's about to happen tomorrow.  Sure there's shopping, if you can find time for that, and yes there are additional advanced classes you can purchase on top of your admission cost, but there are many available classes that are included in the costly cost of your admission ticket - and I truly find it hard to believe that anyone is too advanced for those included classes. As a matter of fact, I have made it to many of these classes, and I've walked away with new information EVERY TIME!

The two most important requirements for major success are first, being in the right place at the right time, and second, doing something about it!

I'm really excited about my educational line-up to come, and I know my clients are too - because at the end of it all, that's who really gets the benefit from all the work I put into my art!
At the End of February I will find myself in Opryland Nashville, Tennessee! There I will have 3 days of intense training in Goldwell Coloring, Styling & Business. I am beyond BLESSED!  (visit www.goldwell-northamerica.com  to explore more educational opportunities at the Academies in Baltimore & Santa Monica - Canada, too)
In April, you'll find me at IBS New York, taking the opportunity to learn something new in at least 5 classes that are MUST-SEE's for me! (check out www.IBSnewyork.com to see the schedule, line-up or purchase tickets!) I will reward my hard work & sacrifce with a delightful dinner in Little Italy, and a dozen Cannolli from Ferraro's Bakery for the ride home! (it's tradition!)
May will feature the Fashion Focus Show in Baltimore, where I hope to not only learn from the best, but also share my knowledge with others!
(www.fashion-focus.net)
You've seen my posts about EEG's Future Professionals Expo...  well that's in June & you know how I feel about that! If you don't know what "new blood" is coming into the industry, this is THE event to see it all! The talent is so Inspirational! And the future for these soon to be pro's is BRIGHT! They are raising the standard!

Travel may not be an option for you and that's ok! The WORLD is at your fingertips via the internet! Of course, Celina the Hair Pro will keep you up to date, as will Celina's FAVORITE blog Stylista by Salon Confidential! 
Behind the Chair is another excellent resource! Below is an excerpt from my daily BTC inspiration. I'm sharing it with you, because I believe it to echo my message of Education!

Read on & have a GREAT HAIR DAY!

~ Celina 




Get Schooled
Complacency. It can kill a salon business. So what’s the best defense against this deadly inertia? Education! This year, make it a point to allocate more time and energy for training and education to light your team on fire. Here are three tips to get you going:
Make the Commitment: Giving staff access to educational opportunities requires dedication and effort on the part of ownership. This means developing and implementing a training system, writing your own salon-specific training manual, and keeping abreast of everything that's offered in the marketplace. Also consider supporting manufacturers who offer aggressive educational programs.
Be Flexible: Structure must not become suffocating, especially in a creative field. Realize that your training manual will change as staff members grow. For example, if someone can demonstrate they don't need to be in a particular class, they can teach for two hours a week instead of being a student.
Use It Or Lose It: When team members return from a trade show or outside training, set aside time for them to present their discoveries to the rest of the staff.

A Sizzlin September

September has always been synonimous with Back to School, despite the fact that students get back to business days if not weeks before the Labor Day Holiday!!!

At the beauty school, the end of August and beginning of September always bring a large group of new students to the Industry. They are motivated by the idea of someday owning their own business, of entering into a career in a short period of time, of earning a paycheck through the artistic and creative designs of the Beauty Culture, sometimes just continuing the legacy of family members before them. Whatever their motivations, they come to school like many others in many different areas of study with an ideal expecation of success. It comes very easily for some, not so easily for others. Such is life.


In the Salon, Back to School is a very busy time! Clients can benefit from BTS service specials as well as product sales!!! Many get a new look for a new school year and stock up on their favorite shampoo and conditioner at super low prices!

Tips for Students:
BE PREPARED! Being prepared means more than just having a new outfit and school supplies. It also includes knowing that there is WORK involved in learning something new! Not every day is going to be fun and games. Sometimes you'll have a great day, sometimes it'll be a not-so-great day. In the end, you have to go through it all to reach completion, whether it's Kindergarten or your 6th year of College.

BE ON TIME! Showing up late for anything just sets the stage for disaster! Being late for school (or work) leaves you unprepared for the day! (refer to BE PREPARED!) Your goal should be to have more good days than not-so-good-days, and you CAN control that! You can BE ON TIME!!!

SHOW UP! Being present is everything! It always seems to be that the information you need most (or so you think) is given on the day you decide staying home was a great idea! Get up, get dressed, and get moving! Life continues to progress, even if you choose not to take part! At the end of each day, what you take away from it was your choice!


Tips for Hair Salon Guests:
VISIT A SALON! Before you attempt to create a new fringe (aka bangs), check out the internet, ask some friends, look through the phone book and find yourself a salon or stylist! Professional Hair Guru's LOVE to create new looks! And they know what will look just right for YOU (which, sadly may NOT be what looks right for Heidi Klum!)

BRING PICTURES! Sometimes it's hard to explain to someone else exactly the picture you see in your mind of what you want. In fact, rarely do words ever get it exact! Pictures are a MUST! bring a bunch! Maybe you like Jen Aniston's face framing layers but you want Katy Perry's bangs, too! And while you're at it you simply cannot go with out having the darkest color in J'lo's hair over your entire head!!!! Know that although we professional stylists are good, we are not google. Bring a picture.

BE FLEXIBLE! So your stylist warned you that the Jlo color was going to be tooo dark for your fair complexion, but you insisted and now you look like your last name should be Cullen, which was NOT the look you were going for! I'm not going to tell you to "get used to it" or that "it'll grow on you". No it won't. Eventually you might not notice the stares as you walk through the halls at school, but that doesn't mean people stopped staring! TRUST your stylist! He or she has been trained to know what color range will work best for all skin tones. If you wanted a dark chocolate color, and your stylist tells you a milk chocolate would be better - say thank you, and get the milk chocolate! It's chocolate!!!

September, Back to School, Salons and Beauty Schools all share the very same thing - The Beauty Industry. It's part of who we are, and part of everything we do!
Have a great September and chase those dreams!!

Celina

Should I Allow a Beauty School Student Do My Hair??? Why Not????

Have you ever gone to get a trim and came back with a shorter-than-you-wanted haircut?
Ever go to a Salon looking to be blonde and leave a red-head?
How about when you have one hour to squeeze in a Salon visit, but it takes the Stylist 2 hours to cover your greys!?!
I can pretty much guarantee that if one of these scenarios hasn't happened to you, it's happened to someone you know!!! You go to a licensed professional and you expect quality work and service. Sometimes you're an unlucky one and you spend far too much time and money on something that doesn't make you feel like a million dollars. It happens to the best of us!
In the current economic rut most of us are experiencing, consumers are choosing wisely! Clients who have been regularly visiting the salon every 6-8 weeks are stretching their visits to every 12 weeks. Hilight clients are looking for longer lasting shades and tines so that they can visit the salon less often. Gentlemen are opting for longer locks because shorter hair requires more maintenance. Bottom line is that we still want to look AMAZING, we just have less funds to make that happen!
Your local Beauty School is an alternative! You have the choice to take your business where ever you choose. The best decisions we make are based on the amount of knowledge we have. As an Industry insider I am happy to share the pro's and con's of choosing a Beauty School to provide for your hair, skin and nail needs!
*HOURS OF OPERATION :
"They're probably only open while I'm at work. I can't call off of work to get my hair done!"
Call and find out! Look through your local yellow pages or search online. Reality is there is an abundance of adult learners studying Cosmetology after they leave their full time day jobs. Many Beauty Schools offer evening classes with open Salon hours. Some open the doors on the weekends too! You don't know if you don't call!
*QUALITY AND PROFESSIONALISM:
"I'm really picky about my hair! I need to have a stylist with experience! A student would have a really hard time giving me what I want"
Truth is that every professional hair stylist was a student at one time and only developed their skill by practicing - ON PEOPLE!!!! Even more true is that we remain students long after we finish school! Stylists continue to learn new skills and techniques every day! In addition to that, anyone who is attracted to the field of Cosmetology already has the uncontrollable desire to please! So those students are quite possible just as picky as you may be!
It's a competitive field and the students know this and work very hard to be the very best, so that they can land a successful Salon Job after graduation!
Another point to be made is that State Laws require that students' complete a large amount of hours of training before they are able to work on the public. The State also requires that all work done by students is under the supervision and guidance of a Licensed Educator. This is where you can be sure of the quality! Educators are experienced and many of them continue to work behind the chair as well as in the classroom. These Educators are responsible for positive outcomes for both the Student and the Guest. They make sure every guest leaves happy and with the intention to return!
*MONEY:
"I don't have money to waste! I'm afraid that if I spend what I have to get my hair done, and then I don't like it, it'll cost more to have it fixed!"
This is a valid concern! We work hard to make money and it's smart to spend it wisely!
Beauty Schools are full of amazing fresh new talent! I was witness to the intensity of this when I attended a Future Professional Expo that showcased the work of 1,000's of students from across the U.S. and I was blown away!! The students work hard and their work is nothing short of AMAZING! A plus to those is that Beauty Schools only charge for the cost of materials. You can get a quality color, cut and finish for as low as $20. Spa Manicures and pedicures for as little as $6, even perms and relaxers for less that $25! And satisfaction is guaranteed!!!
The educators make sure that you receive quality service and will work hard to accommodate your requests and offer a professional point of view! If for any reason you are unhappy, the staff is able to assist!
*TIME:
"I have very little time to spare! I need to get in and get out! I want a stylist who knows exactly what to do every time without having to explain it! I doubt a student can do that!"
Oh, contrare! Here's the trick! When a stylist (or student-stylist) takes the time to perfect every detail and consults thoroughly to find out exactly what you want and definitely do not want, on your very 1st visit, the mental notes they take are with them permanently!
An initial visit should ALWAYS take a little bit longer than the following visits! That's a good thing! And if that stylist gets it just right, no matter how long it takes, isn't that a good thing?
On your first visit to a Beauty School Salon, let the receptionist know that you don't have much time to spare. This information will assist the educator in choosing an appropriate Future Pro for you! On the other hand, it may turn out that the educator feels like your request can't be accommodate at that time, and may suggest another day that might better fit your schedule. Ultimately communication is KEY! Communicate with the educators and student stylists in the same way you would communicate with a manager or professional at any other salon!
Another tip is to get a Consultation. They are almost always free, and they give you and the stylist a very clear understanding of what will take place during the service, whether it's a haircut or a corrective color! Knowing in advance what you will have done, what it will cost, and how much time it will take will help you to fit it in on a day that will work best for everyone!

At the end of the day, only you can choose what will work best for you. I highly recommend asking for referrals. Talk to friends and family, find out about a school and its reputation. Perhaps a good friend knows someone who is currently enrolled in the Cosmetology ! And if you do visit a school and are impressed with the service you received, spread the word! Share that info with others! You have the opportunity to receive quality services at ridiculously low prices, but at the same time to give a Future Professional the opportunity to increase their self-esteem and help them to reach their goals! Even more likely, you Will discover a highly talents artist and develop a long lasting professional relationship with them. Perhaps you'll even be inspired to change careers and enroll in a Cosmetology program yourself!
The why's and why not's of choosing a beauty school for your hair care needs mirror those of choosing a professional salon. For more information about policies and procedures, availability and cost, contact your local beauty school, in and take a look around. Give yourself the chance to discover an amazing alternative!