Leave a Review!

Let us know what type of experience you've had at Shear Elegance. Good, bad, mediocre...we want to know. :) There's always room for improvement, and if you just love us, we like to hear about that too!

http://local.yahoo.com/info-55311702-shear-elegance-salon-of-trinity-trinity

It's that time of year again!

The holidays are quickly approaching! If I didn't get the reminders when I'm shopping in the stores and they are already playing holiday music, the shift in how busy the salon has become is a definite reminder that Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hannukah and New Years are almost here.

We have a few things going on over the next month. First, the salon will be closed on Thanksgiving and the day after. We will also be closed on Christmas Day and the day after that. (We will be open for half day only on Christmas Eve) I will double check and repost about New Years, because I'm not sure when we are open for that holiday.

Next, we are throwing a holiday open house to show appreciation to all of our clients for a great beginning at Shear Elegance. That will be from 7-9pm on Tuesday December 22nd. We will have wine tastings, light snacks, and will be raffling away four HUMUNGOUS and WONDERFUL gift baskets with tons of goodies by Redken, ZOYA, Qtica, etc. Each gift basket has two gift certificates in it as well.

Lastly, just a reminder to everyone...make your appointments when you can. The holiday season is our busiest time, and we want to accomodate everyone. Nothing upsets me more than to find out I can't fit a client into my schedule when they need it. We are already booked for most of this week, and December is filling up quickly. If you know you need to get in, let us know!!! I want everyone to feel beautiful for the holidays. :)

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

I'm back!!!!

Hi Everybody!

I'm back to the salon, as a married woman, and also certified in microdermabrasion. :) Stay tuned...I'm hoping to eventually get my own microderm machine so I can start offering that service in addition to skin care.

My first day back at the salon was today, and our wedding was October 10th. We honeymooned in Key West, and I got to bring my shih tzu, Callie, with us. It was a great time. I'm still trying to get used to my new last name.....

Hope to post a few pictures soon!

We've done a few of the Coppola Keratin Straightening services recently at the salon. Each were a success. We've gotten a lot of feedback, and some people are overwhelmed by the price. The cost is definitely significant, but people love the results and the fact that it puts keratin back into the hair. Most don't know that it actually costs the salon almost TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS just to purchase the quantity of product needed for one client's hair, in addition to the products you take home for maintenance. One bottle of the straightener alone costs over three hundred dollars!!! So in light of that, we are charging competitively for the service. We also include the complimentary (but mandatory) follow up shampoo and blow dry 72 hours later. We've gotten rave reviews so far, so I hope it continues!

Keratin Complex Hair Therapy is here!

We are now offering the Coppola Keratin Complex. Similar to Brazilian Keratin straightening, but without the formaldehyde. Some info about the procedure:

It takes approximately 3 hours to complete

The cost is 400.00. This includes: The initial service, the shampoo and conditioner necessary to maintain results at home, and a shampoo and blowdry at the salon 3 days after the service. This is imperative, as the stylist needs to make sure the hair is shampoo'd and conditioned properly and must examine the hair three days later.

The results last 3-5 months

The procedure can be done on chemically treated hair. You may color your hair again any time after two weeks later.

The hair cannot get wet, be pulled back in a ponytail, tucked behind ears, bent, etc for at least 72 hours.

The service is designed not for complete straightening, but to relax curl and eliminate frizz and damaged hair cuticle. According to Coppola, this service does NOT damage the hair, but infuse it with natural keratin. They say the procedure can be repeated every 4-6 weeks if desired. They state that the hair will respond even better with each application.

Benefits of the service:
Help eliminate frizz
Relax curl
Bring back shine and healthy looking hair
Repair hair cuticle

Candidates for this service include: men, women, children...anyone with unruly hair. This procedure is not recommended for pregnant or nursing women.

I'm very excited to start using this product. I just went through the education process for it. Very exciting!!!

My Time Off in October

As everyone knows, I'm getting married in a few weeks. I don't take time away from the salon often, so I want to give everyone ample notice so they can schedule their appointments accordingly. :)

Wednesday, October 7th, I will be coming in at 1pm instead of 10am.
I will be gone from Friday, October 9th, returning on Tuesday, October 20th.

Thank you in advance for your understanding!

Product Review: Aerate 08

ALL OF YOU GALS WITH FINER, LIMP LOCKS! are you looking for more volume for when you blow out your hair? have i got the product for you!

redken just released their newest volumizing product called "Aerate". It's an 8 on the hold scale from 1-23. (23 is the strongest hold) It's in a jar, but the feel is similar to a mousse. However, it is slightly creamier, and doesn't have the amount of alcohol that a lot of mousses and hairsprays do. our rep dropped it off for us to test out last week (thanks, dana!) and all of the stylists here LOVE it. it's great for everything from short, funky styles, to polished shorter blowouts to longer fine hair. we normally don't stock the salon with a new product unless we all agree it has a lot of potential, and the three of us couldn't wait to each get our hands on a jar.

Why It Works:
> The lightness of a mousse: Revolutionary aerated creame adds featherweight body
> The moisturizing properties of a cream: Conditioning agents for silky softnes and manageability
>The volumizing benefits of cellulose: Plumps hair giving it body and texture
> Helps block humidity: for prolonged shape memory and refined style

Contacting me through the blog

I wanted to make it easier for everyone to contact me through here. If you need to reach me, click on the "view my complete profile" link on the bottom"ish" right side of the page. That will bring up my profile. On the profile page, there is a contact link for email. Click on that, and you're all set. :)

After summer help for your hair

Is your hair destroyed from having too much fun this summer in the sun, sand and pool?

Come in for a clarifying treatment for 10.00*. If your hair needs extra conditioning on top of getting all the built up gunk off, add on a deep conditioning chemistry treatment for 10.00. This will prep your hair for the fall!

*does not include blow dry

V.I.P Special For August

For all of my VIPS! If you're interested, during this month only, we are giving 1/2 off a manicure or pedicure with any hair color, highlighting or haircut service. :)

Perfect way to end the summer!!

A favorite pic :)

My two blonde bobbed bombshells...Lisa and Jen! :)

I hope!

I hope that everyone has found me by now. It's been difficult for some people to track me down, because they didn't have my blog information prior. Slowly but surely, I'm starting to hear from more people that are friends of clients, or friends of clients of another stylist here! Since George Josef Salon has closed, more people have wandered in here by chance, knowing this is one of the closest alternatives. I've met some of my old coworkers' former clients as well due to this! I, personally, deeply appreciate the referrals I have gotten as of late, and the people who were kind enough to tell others where I am. Please keep up the great work! I'm keeping up the referral program through September 15th, so anyone who has sent me a referral already, has one more to go before a free haircut! :)

Poll!!!!!!!

I want to get an idea on how many of my readers and/or clients are interested in the formaldehyde free brazilian keratin straightening system. I have included a poll on the right hand side of this page. Please feel free to vote!!!!

Shampooing and Conditioning your hair at home

I think I always thought that everyone automatically knows how to do this properly. Recently, one of my clients really surprised me when we started talking about her home maintenance routine, and she was telling me that the conditioner I recommended her was weighing her hair down and she felt it was still dirty afterwards. Because I knew what I recommended was exactly what she needed, (she is overprocessed and I have her on a restructuring line) I started asking her questions about how she washes and conditions her hair. We found out that is what her problem was. Here is how to duplicate a salon shampoo and condition at home:

1) start with the best products for your hair. if you don't already have them, ask your stylist to recommend some for you. the better the products work with your hair type and condition, the better your end result will be.

2) wet your hair THOROUGHLY. don't just dampen it. if you have thicker hair, you will find that you need to part the back of your hair with your fingers to get the water to really hit your roots.

3) shampoo: concentrate on roots. conditioner: concentrate on ends. when you shampoo, really SCRUB your head. again, part your hair with your hands where you are thicker so you can really get in there. for most people, washing only once is not enough. lather, rinse, repeat. :) rinse your hair well after the second shampoo.

4) squeeze out all excess water before conditioning. if you are doing a treatment or deep conditioner, use a towel to get all extra water out of the hair.

5) apply your conditioner to your hands, rub them together to spread the conditioner on both of your hands, and start from the bottom of your hair, working your way up. NEVER apply conditioner to your roots or scalp. you can work your way up to the top of your hair, (near your roots) but you just have much less conditioner on your hands when you get to that point. using a wide toothed comb, (never a small one or a brush...yikes!!) you can comb the conditioner through, or you can manipulate it with your hands. again, start at the ends and work your way higher.

6) for the final rinse, rinse longer than you think you should. part your hair with your hands and let the water beat onto your scalp, scrub your scalp to remove any residue. if your hair doesn't feel clean, it isn't. it should feel soft from conditioner, but not slimy.

we often find gals that come in that think they have dandruff, or may have some flaking. the truth is, most of those women are actually not rinsing their hair enough, and that is shampoo residue that is building up on their scalp and flaking off.

on another note, you should always feel like you are getting a thorough shampoo at a salon. if you're not, (if your stylist doesn't scrub an area of your head well enough, like the nape or crown, or they don't rinse you well enough) speak up! all of us want our guests' heads squeaky clean. some of us are hesitant when it comes to pressure, and sometimes if you lean back into the shampoo bowl a certain way, part of your hairline rests under the bowl and it doesn't get as clean. we will readjust you if we need to, and we want you to be 100% happy. :)

Take care of your hair! :)

July VIP special at Shear Elegance Salon of Trinity

Special for our VIP card holders for July only:

With any cut and color service, you many choose to have a deep conditioning treatment or glaze added on for free! (Redken Chemistry treatment or Shades EQ glaze)

Depending on your hair type, condition and color regime, that will determine what is best.

Perfect to help our summer stressed hair!!!

To texturize or not to texturize...that is the question

I often have clients that go back and forth between getting a trendy texturized cut and going basic with either a blunt cut or layers. They often either make the decision on their own, or look to me for guidance. Here are some factors to take into consideration when making this decision...

1) Do you enjoy styling your hair, or are you a "wash and go" person? Unless you have wavy hair and usually wear it that way, texturized cuts often require that you apply some sort of styling effort to your hair in the morning, whether it is flat ironing, blowing your hair out, or mussing it up with your fingers and some product. If you have wavy hair that you normally wear wavy or curly, texturizing can help make your waves or curls more defined.

2) do you go for regular trims? texturized looks can often get dryer looking faster, as you will have shorter pieces throughout your hair, which means there are more areas for split ends to show. it is important to stay on top of regular haircuts.

3) do you prefer a classic look or something very trendy? you can achieve a classic look with light texturizing, but heavy texturizing results in a more trendy outcome.

4) is your hair manageable in humidity, or does it lose all hope? if your hair is completely unmanageable with some humidity in the air, stick with a more blunt cut, as your hair will fare better. too much texture + humidity + frizz = nightmare

If you do decide for a textured look, there are so many fun styling products to work with nowadays. Redken makes 06 Rewind, which is a wonderful pliable product. it's not a stiff feel at all. They also have the Urban Experiment "Grit Wax" which is an all time favorite of mine. There's also the 20 Rough Clay, that has a hold like hairspray, but doesn't look wet. Here is a link with some further styling product information: http://www.redken.com/products/styling/results/texture

Don't ever buy something you don't feel 100% comfortable working with. There are so many options nowadays, you don't have to settle with something you're scared to use or that doesn't give you the end result you want. Ask questions, feel the product in your fingers, get tips on how to use it. Have fun!

Take care of your hair!

Starting Over

It's been about a week and a half since I've been residing at Shear Elegance. I'm happy to say that I've found a place where it is comfortable, warm and friendly, but change is always hard. I feel very lucky that some of my past clients have tried (and some successfully!) to track me down. I had a gal visit here last week that said that she actually pulled out the phone book when no one would tell her what happened to me, and she started calling all of the salons in the area asking if I was there. hahahaha! I have to say, I was very touched. I knew I would miss the people I've come to know over the past year. I've had some others find me through the blog, but it will take some time to rebuild a clientele. I'm very hopeful, however, and I've decided to up the ante when it comes to referrals. So that way, I can rebuild a little faster, and my clients will benefit also!!

So, for every two referrals, starting now, that someone refers to me (they have to give your name on their client sheet when they come in for their first visit) you will get a free haircut. :) The appointment must be made in advance and that appointment must be honored, so scheduling doesn't become a problem, but I'm happy to do this for the people who are loyal who I have come to like so much. :)

So send me everyone....friends, family, coworkers...send em all in!!

Redken Straight Balm 05

I have to say, this is one of my favorite products by Redken. I use it on my own hair (mixed with a cocktail of satinwear and outshine) and it helps my hair stay straighter during the summer months and year round. It's not heavy like "Align" and it doesn't make it difficult to blow dry the hair, like some straightening balms do. It has humidity resistance as well, like some of the other products like Ringlet and the curl line. It's not oily at all, and it helps fight frizz. I just love it.

Keratin Straightening/Smoothing System

So sometime over the next few weeks, we are going to begin carrying the Coppola Keratin Straightening/Smoothing system. It is similar to the Brazilian Straightening, but without the dangerous formaldehyde. We will have a demo done for us when we receive the product, and at that point, we will also get certified to perform the system on clients.

This is very exciting...it puts keratin (the natural protein your hair is made up of) back into the hair and takes out 95% of wave and frizz. This is perfect for the gals who like sleek, straight hair without fussing with it everyday in this Florida humidity. It is still supposed to allow for some volume/body but with a lot more control. I'm so excited to start using this product!!

For the next two and a half weeks

I will be giving my customers a VIP card to Shear Elegance. It's good for one year and gives you 10% off all of your services and 5% off retail purchased. We also run monthly VIP member specials.

Come in for your VIP card asap! :)

Pictures of Shear Elegance

Here is the reception area. I am offering 10% off to all of my clients with their first visit. :)

The New Salon Information

Starting next Wednesday, June 17, I will be at Shear Elegance Salon of Trinity, a Redken 5th Avenue salon.

Shear Elegance
4207 Little Road
Trinity, FL 34655
Phone: 727-494-7678

I am excited for this move. The proprietors are Jeff and Alison Morin, and their main objective is to create "guests for life", and the ambiance is very comfortable. It is an upscale salon with reasonable pricing.

My available hours for appointments will :
Tuesday: 10-8
Wednesday: 10-8
Thursday: 10-6
Saturday: 8-5

My haircuts will now be 35.00 vs 48.00
Men's cuts will be 19.00 vs 25.00
Shampoo and style will be 25.00
Deep conditioning treatments will be 10.00 vs 20.00
Color will start at 35.00 instead of 64.00
Highlights will start at 75.00 instead of 98.00

We also offer waxing services, nail services, makeup and eventually massage therapy.

Feel free to contact the salon to schedule your appointments.
I hope to be seeing you all soon. :)

Stay tuned for the party at our plaza on Saturday, June 27th, when Metro PCS invites 97X to spend the day with all of us. We'll all be doing free giveaways!!!

Starting next week!!!

Starting next week, I will be at Shear Elegance of Trinity. It's a brand new, beautiful salon that only opened three weeks ago. Like GJ, it is a Redken 5th Avenue salon. The ambiance is tamed down from where I was prior, as well as the pricing.

Tomorrow afternoon, I will have my hours so people may start scheduling appointments. I'm also hoping to take some pictures of the place and I will post the pricing as well. Hope to see you there soon!!

I'm doing fine...no family emergency here!!!

hi all!

i've gotten a couple of interesting emails from people who have reached out to me that are looking for me. apparently, they are being told that i haven't been at work because i "have a family emergency". rest assured, that is not the case. i am fine, my family is fine, and i'm anxious to get back to work. :)

i should know by wednesday where i will be permanently. i'm excited, because from what i can tell the salon owner seems super sweet, they are also a Redken 5th Avenue salon, and the pricing is a bit more affordable. I will post the salon details as soon as I can.

to anyone who has been fibbed to recently, i am truly sorry and please know that i value each of you as my goal has always been to build a relationship with each of my clients.

again, i am not going to be contacting anyone, although i wish i had the capabilities of doing so. pass it on, and visit my blog often for updates.

see you soon!

anne

Stay tuned...

unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond my control, I am no longer at george josef salon effective immediately. rochelle, jenny, lisa and i have all left and will not be returning.

if you need to contact me directly, you can email me at ap81476@yahoo.com. i will keep you posted on our whereabouts as soon as that information presents itself. :)

****Please do not think that I have neglected to contact you, because I am not calling anyone. Unless you have contacted me directly in the past, I don't have anyone's phone numbers. Legally, I am not supposed to solicit any of my clients for phone numbers or personal information. I have to protect myself for that reason. Fortunately for you, neither I nor the "salon" owns you...you have the choice to go wherever you want to and to whomever you want to. If you have had wonderful experiences with the salon itself, please know that it's ok to continue doing business with them if you want to.****


To my clients who have expressed distaste over the pricing, the atmosphere, the management, etc, you can now rest assured that you won't be put in that situation any longer.


To everyone, I have loved working on all of you, and thoroughly enjoy the relationship we have built over the past year. I have appreciated your patronage and still appreciate your support. :)*

Brazilian Keratin Treatments

Check out the link. It is an unsafe procedure, and the FDA is not involved due to the fact that they don't monitor cosmetics. You're taking your life into your own hands.

http://www.hair-styles-secrets-revealed.com/hair/202/brazilian-keratin-treatment-danger/

"Today Show" segment on doing your own hair color

So I was a little disappointed this morning when I woke up and saw a segment on the Today Show about doing your own hair color at home. I, like most of the people I know, are concerned about our economy, and am carefully budgeting my own money and cutting back on what I can, but I also know what's better left to the professionals. There are some rare occasions when a gal comes into the salon for a cut, tells me she does her own color at home, and it looks pretty decent, but more often than not, that's not the case.

The segment featured a professional colorist who gave tips on doing your color at home, and encouraged women to feel empowered to do so. She colored three models hair with at home color, to "show how easy it is".

What the gal didn't explain were quite a few things. Like first, she is already a professional. It is easy for her to identify if something is off in the color, she knows how to professionally formulate, and she knows what not to put on certain hair types.

Here is what you SHOULD know about at home color:

!) It is not made of the same chemicals we use in the salon. These are "metal dyes", which buildup on the hair and progressively get darker each time you color it. Metal dyes are often not compatible with other professional services you may want done later on. They also do NOT come out...we have to bleach them out (and this is extremely damaging to your hair) when you decide you don't want that color any more.

2) We rarely use the same color on your roots as on the rest of your hair in the salon. The hair near your scalp is different than your "older" hair, and it takes color differently. That's why you sometimes see women who have brighter roots than ends when they dye their hair at home. These are called "hot roots" and it's a no no in the color world.

3) Sometimes what you see on the box cover isn't what's inside of the box. More often nowadays, we are seeing women who come into the salon in a panic, because they did at home color, and it was a completely different color than they expected. At home color goes through MANY hands before it ends up in yours...including young kids who work at your favorite pharmacy or grocery store, and they sometimes like to play the old "switcheroo".

The bottom line is, if we have to fix an at home color mistake, it is much more expensive than if you had it done professionally in the first place...and your hair goes through a lot more. If your budget doesn't allow for a lot of professional hair care, talk to your stylist about a lower maintenance color plan, so you get the most "bang for your buck". All of us are willing to work with our regulars to make their lives easier for them. :)

Frizz in the summertime

So many people in this area have problems with frizz in the summertime. It's an unfortunate consequence of living in paradise, I suppose. ;) The summer humidity down here can turn even the most manageable hair into a mess. To an extent, you can help with the right products. Once the humidity gets to a certain level, however, you might just benefit from a ponytail or by working with the natural texture of your hair. :)

During this time of year, you want to use products that contain anti-humectants...these products will keep humidity at bay. Also, you want to make sure that your hair is moisturized enough so that it doesn't seek moisture from other sources. (like the air!) Use leave in products that are light, so your hair doesn't feel greasy or weighed down.

Some of my favorites:

Shampoo/Conditioner
Anything from the Halo line -- all products have anti humectants along with UV protection for color.
The Curl line from Redken (Green bottle) -- Even if you don't have curly hair, this line has all the anti-humectants you want. :)

Leave in products
Anything from the Redken Curl line
Ringlet 07

Your questions are happily answered...

...here in between appointments, or even if you haven't been an official client yet. If you have any hair or skin care questions, I'm happy to answer them for you. If I have a question that I feel will pertain to everyone, I will make it a separate blog entry and post all information I have that is relevant.

Referral Program for Spring/Summer 2009

Prior to now, we have thanked all of our clients who are kind enough to refer us new business by entering them into a drawing for a 100.00 gift certificate monthly. We have decided to stop that program and start a new referral incentive that is "by stylist" as our personal way of thanking our loyal guests. :)

My personal referral program for the spring and summer will be this: for every 3 clients you refer to me starting April 7th, you get a free haircut with a color service. If you are not a color client, for every four people you refer, you get your next haircut free with no other obligations. :) This is for referring new business only, and your referral must give us the card for your name to be tracked. (if you don't have one to give them, have them ask us for one...that also guarantees their 20% off discount for the first visit) This is my way of saying "thank you" for enjoying your time/experience with me enough to send other people my way.

Have a happy spring and a blessed easter!

Hugo Urias of Redken Exchange in NYC!

On March 15th and 16th, we were thrilled to have Hugo Urias of Redken visit George Josef to educate us in new trends and advanced cutting and finishing techniques. The class stretched over two days and covered both men's and women's trends. We all had a great time!

Why does my hair start to feel different???

Like most Florida residents, we often have less than satisfactory drinking/bathing water in our homes. Most people have opted for everything from osmosis systems to water softeners and full home water filtration operations. When I first moved from the sunshine state, I often watched my hair morph right in front of my eyes...it went from being manageable, healthy and clean feeling, to tangly, dirty and limp. I would blow dry my hair after washing, to only find that it felt like it needed to be washed again immediately. It was a vicious cycle, and one that did not end until I started using clarifying systems and treatments. Here is one that I recommend. There is also the Malibu Wellness line that has not only scalp wellness shampoos, but weekly treatments as well. **BE ADVISED** a lot of people don't know this, but mineral build up in hair follicles can contribue to hair loss and hindered hair growth! HAIR CLEANSING CREAM SHAMPOO

Clarifies and works to remove copper, iron, hard water minerals and styling product build-up on all hair types. Formulated with fruit acids to add shine, purify and refresh hair.

Why It Works:

> Clarifies and works to remove copper, iron, hard water minerals and styling product build-up

> Purifies, refreshes and leaves hair shiny

Key Ingredients:

Contains a high concentration of chelating agents that surround minerals, making them more soluble so they can be washed away. Formulated with fruit acids to add shine, it purifies and refreshes hair.

How To Use:

Alternate with your regular shampoo. Apply to wet hair, massage into a lather. Rinse. Repeat if necessary. For excessive build-up, leave in 5-10 minutes. Rinse.

A "Color Junkie's" best friend

COLOR EXTEND SUN
New Color Extend Sun protects highlights, safeguards color and replenishes sun-stressed strands. Redken’s exclusive Interbond Conditioning System and advanced Hydra-Shield Complex with Soplexyl™, a patented UV filter, provide powerful protection while restoring lost moisture and luminous shine. Color Extend Sun is a perfect compliment to Color Extend. It is the ideal regimen when spending time at the beach and by the pool or for clients who spend a lot of time outdoors. Color Extend Sun is also great for daily use during the summertime or year-round for those who live in warm climates.

**This is a must for Floridians. Our sun is so strong, especially through the summer months, that our hair color fades every minute we are outdoors, even if we don't spend time basking in the sun. Simple color shampoos aren't doing the trick...we need something with additional UVB filters to act as a barrier to the sun.

Welcome!

Welcome to everyone who pops by here. Stay tuned for updates on me, George Josef Salon, and the cosmetology industry. Feel free to join my blog, post questions, comments, etc, and to share this link with friends and family. I look forward to chatting with you all!