The Power of The Wedding Dress0

I recently travelled to New York City for a photo shoot featuring bridal looks which meant I had to board a plane with a large hanging bag clearly marked as a wedding gown.  When I found out that the flight was oversold and we were in danger of losing our seats, I pulled aside my husband (who’d come along for the ride) and instructed him to remove his wedding ring.  “Perhaps,” I thought, “we’d have more luck getting on if the airline staff assumed we were traveling to get married.”  The dress, it turned out, had its own indescribable power like some sort of magic cloak.  It mesmerized the folks at the counter who took one look at it and redoubled their efforts to find volunteers so we could get on the flight.  It captivated the captain who immediately lifted it from my hands and hung it in his private closet.  The dress continued its influence even after it had been taken from me and I was moved from an uncomfortable middle seat (rows away from my husband) to an aisle seat next to an empty one.

I wasn’t completely surprised by my experience because I must admit that I’ve also submitted to the power of the wedding dress.  In the supermarket I’ve rolled up to the checkout stand and found myself inexplicably reaching for bridal magazines.  Despite my paranoia that fellow shoppers will know I’m a fake, the tiara wearing cover models beckon me and I page through images of princess brides and multi-tiered cakes with butter cream frosting.  When engaged Beauty Heaven Stylist, Lisa Call, planned her third trip to a bridal store I couldn’t help fantasizing about trips to Vera Wang and the “oohs” and “awws” of friends.  I’ve even been captivated by reality shows featuring brides to be searching for the perfect dress.  Why does the wedding dress retain this kind of magic even after we’re married? I’ve given myself comfort (and the freedom to thumb through those magazines) with the realization that the wedding dress symbolizes our dream of being a princess. And we don’t have to stop fantasizing about being princesses even if we’ve already married the prince.

Beauty Heaven's Danielle Resurrects Her Wedding Dress For a Trash The Dress Photo Shoot (Hair Extensions, Styling and Makeup by Ann Merin)

Posted under General Information

Do Women Care What Men Like?0

When I met my husband, it was 7 am and I was sitting on a plane on my way home for Thanksgiving.  It didn’t occur to me that I might meet someone, much less the man of my dreams, so I dressed for comfort.  I wore loose, boyfriend style jeans, a boxy sweater and no makeup…which was a big mistake as my husband has preferred me makeup-less ever since.  Even after I was certified as a makeup artist and became an expert at creating a smoky eye or taking years off a woman’s face, my husband stuck to his guns.

“You just look so much better without it.”

A few weeks ago I brought home a bright lime green purse with a matching boxy wallet that I fell in love with at a stylish boutique in Las Vegas.  As I walked up to my husband and unveiled my official 2009 summer handbag, he grimaced.

“How many Kermit the Frogs died to make that purse?”

“You don’t like it?”

“I hate it.”

Instead of retiring my ensemble, I proudly took it to London and France for a wedding and received many compliments from friends, acquaintance and complete strangers…all women of course.   The men may have been thinking the same as my husband, but I didn’t care.

This all made me wonder if women ever care about what men like.  Do we say we are trying to look beautiful or stylish for men when we are really doing this for ourselves or other women?  I pondered all the times my husband had expressed a strong opinion about a beauty or fashion decision and decided that the answer is sometimes.

For example, a few years ago, when I went too brightly blonde for my husband’s taste, I immediately called my stylist, Cari Sluder, who kindly squeezed me in the next day to tone my hair to a more neutral color.  And when he commented that my new favorite flip flops with plastic flowers “were a little too much,” I held off on ordering another pair.

However, when I got waist length hair extensions and his response was “wow, you look so sexy.”  I decided to wear my hair long again.  When he said noticed how silky and shiny my hair was after a Keratin Smoothing with Lisa Call, I decided to add the treatment to my “must have” list.  And when he told me how much he loved how the natural looking eyelash extensions done by Kelsey Clay or Alison Nadeau, I made a point of recommending them to other women with makeup wary spouses.

The truth is that it doesn’t matter to me that my husband may never like my bright green handbag or prefer me with the smoky eye makeup that I sometimes insist on wearing.  But, I do like that he appreciates some of the enhancements I get at the salon.  After all, it’s nice to be on the same page as men on some things.

Posted under General Information

Mission Critical Beauty1

Mission Critical Beauty 

Next week I’m going back to New York for my 20th (gasp) college reunion at Columbia and I’m feeling the pressure look just right.  After all, Matthew Fox, star of “Lost,” was in my class and does occasionally show up for reunions.  However, I’m a busy gal with my own business and not a lot of time.  This dilemma inspired me to make a list of my “mission critical” beauty services - the things I MUST get done to look and feel my best before a big event:

3 Weeks Before The Event:  Great Lengths Hair Extensions
Cari Sluder, our Creative Director, used extensions to add highlights and fullness to my naturally long hair.  Just a couple of bundles made a huge difference.
 
2 Weeks Before The Event:  Keratin Smoothing Treatment
Lisa Call, one of our Senior Stylists, gave me a Keratin Smoothing Treatment which works great on extensions and makes hair shiny, soft and easy to style for 4 months.  I can’t live without it!
 
Right Before The Event:  Color
A couple of days before I leave, one of our Beauty Heaven stylists will do my highlights (so I feel like a real California blonde even though I grew up in New York City).  All of our stylists are amazing at color so I can go to any one of them and know I’m going to get fantastic results.

Other Things I do Before a Big Event:
  
2 Weeks Before The Event:  Titan and Botox with Cyndi Chen at Laser Medical Center
Titan restores elasticity to my skin while Botox gets rid of those pesky worry lines.
 
2 Days Before The Event:  Airbrush Tanning at The Tanning Spa
This airbrush service creates the most natural tan I’ve ever seen and why work out when you can just have those abdominal muscles sprayed on.

Posted under General Information

Sorry About The 80s1

A couple of months ago, a friend enthusiastically invited me to her birthday celebration - a gathering of 20 or so of her close friends at some local hotspots near her home in Newport Beach.  There was only one catch; it had a theme and dress code: The 80s.  This wasn’t the first time that this pesky decade had reared its neon colored head.  At cosmetology school, there were 80s themed dress up days (a perk, not a punishment) where students sported perfect Madonna wear including lace gloves and Jane Fonda leotards, tights and legwarmers.  I was so stunned at the authenticity of the outfits that I inquired where the students had found them.  “These are my mother’s old clothes” was the standard response.  I couldn’t believe that anyone would have kept outfits from 20 years ago, much less bad ones.  Local bars sponsored 80s theme nights that proved increasingly popular and friends displayed pictures of themselves in 80s themed costumes on their social networking pages.  When a song from the 80s played on the radio, everyone under 25 seemed to know the words.

Years ago I read an article about fashion that said that current fashion will pull from what was popular 20 years prior.  So, if you were lucky enough to be developing your fashion sense in the late 80s and early 90s, as I was, you got some inspiration from the late 60s and early 70s: a period chock full of cool style.  Unfortunately for people currently in their 20s, the decade of style inspiration is the 80s: a period so full of fashion and hair blunders that it is difficult to remember anything trendy then that wouldn’t look ridiculous now.  And though I know that many of the people embracing these 80s faux pas do it with a tongue and cheek attitude, I still feel I must take some responsibility for what my generation wrought.  So on the day of my friend’s 80s party I stood in solidarity with the Pat Benatar lookalike, the three guys dressed as Run DMC, the girl dressed like Olivia Newton John from her “Let’s Get Physical” video and the rest of the participants.  After all, I cant change the past, but I can still laugh at it.

Birthday party attendees sporting their best 80s style (I'm all the way on the left)

Posted under General Information

Beauty Spending Guilt?0

During the 2001 recession I visited the upscale Murad Spa in El Segundo, California to use a gift certificate I had been given.  I expected the waiting room to be deserted and the phones to be silent.  After all, this was not long after 9/11 and a visit to the spa seemed contrary to the solemn atmosphere of the country.  The economy was sinking: the Dow had slipped below 7600; the airline industry was asking for a government bailout; and the U.S. had gone to war in Afghanistan.  Sound familiar?

When I arrived at the spa, I discovered a busy locker room and waiting area full of robe sporting, slipper wearing women sipping on cucumber water while the girls at the front desk raced to answer phones that were ringing off the hook.  Thinking that this must be some sort of anomaly, I asked the girl waxing my eyebrows if it had been slow in the last few months.

“No.  Actually, it’s been very busy,” she responded.

“Why do you think that is,” I inquired.

“I guess when women feel stressed or unsure they come here because it makes them feel better.”

I was immediately reminded of the scene from Legally Blonde when Elle Woods, hysterical upon finding out her ex boyfriend was engaged, drives like a bat out of hell to the nearest nail spa.

I thought about my own life and couldn’t recall any point (after I was making money on my own) that I cut back on my highlights or specialty hair products because of an economic downturn or global crisis.  During the 1990 to 1991 recession and Gulf War I faithfully visited Bumble & Bumble in NYC every 3 months for highlights and an occasional updo for a black tie affair.  During the technology downturn I went on a quest through the most expensive salons in LA searching for a new colorist to guarantee me the perfect shade of blonde in time for my wedding.  Certainly, during these times, money had been tight and other expenses had been sacrificed: A really good coffee maker replaced my daily trips to Starbucks and an eco-friendly, natural gas, Honda Civic (which I still drive) took the place of my BMW.  Still, I wondered, “Should I feel guilty about always spending money on beauty?”

After a little research I found that, according to the statistics about the beauty industry, my behavior is totally normal.  Apparently, women will give up almost everything else during economic hard times except their hair services.  After some reflection on the matter I came to the conclusion that this behavior is not about being shallow but about retaining a little bit of yourself when everything around you is in disarray.  I may not be able to control where the Dow opens at in the morning but I can make sure that the person in the mirror is familiar to me – that my reflection doesn’t startle me with mousy brown hair or orange roots caused by cheap supermarket dye.  Getting my hair done at a trusted salon gives me peace of mind and provides a respite where, even for a little while, I can muffle out the madness by discussing the latest episode of reality t.v. and anticipating the perfect shade of blonde.  My visits to the salon are a critical for stress relief and, like Elle Woods, I’m not going to feel guilty about it.

Still want to go to the salon, but need to cut spending elsewhere?  Here are some easy places to start:

1. Take 3 less trips to Starbucks a week
   Approximate savings: $10/week
   What you can buy instead: Partial Highlights ($110) at Beauty Heaven every 3 months

1. Instead of purchasing a $350 cocktail dress at BCBG, purchase an identical knock off at Forever 21 for $27.50 (trust me, no one can tell the difference)
   Approximate Savings: $322.50
   What you can buy instead: a full set of eyelash extensions ($250) and a root touch up ($65) at Beauty Heaven

1. Purchase your clothing, shoes, and bags at designer discounter www.bluefly.com and get this $450 Stuart Weitzman jeweled sandal for $229.99 for a special night out
   
   Approximate Savings: $220.01
   What you can buy instead:  Complete your look with an updo ($75), makeup application ($45) and jeweled clutch ($45) at Beauty Heaven

Posted under General Information

Beauty Oops!0

When I was in Beauty School at Paul Mitchell a hysterical, young woman (about 17) came in sporting one of the worst hair disasters I’d ever seen.  She had dyed her highlighted blonde hair dark black, regretted it, put bleach all over her head to return to blonde, and accidentally fallen asleep.  When she awoke clumps of her long blonde hair had broken off on her pillow.  We had no choice but to cut what was left of her cotton candy hair cut into a bob. 

Over the years, I’ve seen many similar “beauty oops” moments, many of which can be attributed to people using do-it-yourself, drugstore hair dyes.  I must say that I completely understand why these hair mistakes happen –the commercials make dying your hair look so easy…buy the box color at your local drugstore, follow the instructions, and “voila,” you are now the blonde you’ve always wanted to be.  However, it is so much more complicated than that…hence the disastrous results that often occur.

If you find yourself (or a loved one) in a “beauty oops” moment, DO NOT PANIC!  First, get to a professional colorist.  A good colorist will almost always have a solution to correct the problem.  To illustrate my point, I’ve listed the beauty blunders we commonly see, why they happen, and some of the solutions we employ at Beauty Heaven:

1)       I tried to dye my brown hair blonde and it turned orange!
The Cause: A dye that lightens your hair does two things: it lightens your hair and then deposits a color to take you to the desired shade (ash, neutral, warm).  “Box dyes” (as we call them) use a much lower grade of ingredients than professional hair dye and are often less powerful.  If your hair turned out orange, the dye didn’t sufficiently lighten your hair or deposit enough color.
The Solution: If you are happy with the how light your hair is but just want something less “Bozo The Clown”; we will use a deposit only color to neutralize the orange shade and create the blonde tone your desire.

2)       I tried to dye my blonde, highlighted hair back to brown and it turned green!
The Cause: A medium brown, permanent dye put directly on very light, highlighted will generally result in an unnatural greenish color.
The Solution: Again, we will try to use a deposit only color in order to neutralize the green tint and create a natural looking brown shade.

3)       I tried to lighten my hair, but my roots came out much lighter than the rest of my hair!
The Cause: There are a few possible reasons why this may happen, but one of the common reasons is that your scalp creates heat and this causes your roots to process at a faster rate than the rest of your hair.
Solution: Your roots will have to be darkened slightly to match the rest of your hair.  However, this generally cannot be done right away because freshly lightened roots tend to be resistant to color.  You’ll probably have to wait at least 24 hours before a colorist can correct this for you. 

4)       I tried to darken my hair and my ends came out much darker than the rest of my hair!
The Cause: Before we apply any hair dye, we look at the porosity of your hair.  Damaged or older hair (your ends) tends to be more porous and may soak up more color than the newer, healthier parts of your hair.
The Solution: A color removal process that can be done at the bowl will generally take care of this problem and even out your color.

If you are currently finding yourself in one of these beauty predicaments, please keep in mind that every case is unique and that your stylist will need information from you to determine the best solution.  You can help by bringing the box from your failed experiment to your colorist so they can see exactly what you used.  And be prepared to give a history of what chemical processes you’ve used in the past so your colorist can select the best counter measure and minimize any further damage to your hair.

Posted under General Information

Adventures in Emmy Land0

Ann Merin at the Emmys Gifting Suite

The more experienced celebrities arrived at these swag gorge-fests in large SUVs (Escalades are the most popular type) with plenty of empty cargo space accompanies by members of their entourage who followed them around and carried overflowing bags of goodies.  Photographers documented their arrival and trailed them as event coordinators presented them like royalty to each booth – i.e., “I present to you…Corey Haim” - more about Corey in a minute.  It took about an average of 90 minutes for each celebrity to circulate around the room as they had to chat with other celebrities, network with press, pose for photographers and politely chat up the vendors. The celebrity population was as diverse as you would expect for the Emmys; Debbie Gibson – the 80’s pop princess – stopped by along with Reality TV “stars” from The Real World and The Hills.  Reservoir Dogs star, Michael Madsen arrived after Corey Haim made the rounds and tried, unsuccessfully, to ask Kelsey out.  Kelsey was way too busy working her eyelash extension magic on several Emmy attendees who were thrilled to have long, luxurious eyelashes in time for the big show.

At the end of the two day event, Kelsey and I packed up our stuff and headed back to the safety of Orange County.  As we chatted in the car, we agreed that these celebrities didn’t have it as easy as we thought.  Who knew that getting free stuff could be so much hard work?

Posted under General Information

The Truth about Hair Extensions0

Last year a local news station promoted a story called “Problems with Hair Extensions.”  It caught my attention - would there be some new development, some new issue that I didn’t know anything about?  I waited past the initial headlines, past the other puff pieces, past the weather…even through the sports update. The 45 second story was the last item in the broadcast indicating that this subject was a big draw for the largely female audience.  The piece focused, primarily, on the damage that sewn in extensions can do after pro-longed wear.  Sewn in extensions require tightly braided tracks of hair into which the extension hair is sewn, and these tight braids, worn over time, tear out the hair and may even permanently damage the follicle.  This was not new information to me and I don’t imagine that it was a surprise to anyone whose mother ever pulled their hair into tight braids as a child.  The story went on to extol the virtues of the strand by strand, keratin (protein) bond application method - information I also knew as someone who has researched, worn, and trained in extensions and eventually created Beauty Heaven, a salon which specializes in them.  The broadcast ended without offering other critical information that I will cover here.

Great Lengths, the strand by strand application brand we feature, was first to develop and patent a damage-free technique using a keratin bond that is fused with your natural hair using either heat or with a new heat-free method we offer called Cold Fusion.  Though I’ve seen imitations of this bond, I’ve never seen anything that works as well. Additionally, because they were first to market, Great Lengths negotiated first pick at the European Hair Markets which has a finite supply of good, quality hair  We have never found another company that furnishes the quality of hair that Great Lengths provides.

A great product, however, does not guarantee a great outcome.  Only a well trained extensionist can provide precise color matching (we usually recommend at least 2 different colors), color blending (a unique service we offer which gives a more natural look) and a special cutting technique to seamlessly combine the extension hair with your natural hair. Experienced extensionists will also ensure lasting healthy bonds and prevent damage upon removal.  Extensions put in correctly should last from 4-6 months.  Your natural shedding cycle (50 to 150 hairs a day), growth rate and natural hair texture will determine precisely how long your hair will last.  If your hair sheds quickly, you may find that you lose some extensions over time as the hair that the extension hair is bonded to natually sheds from your scalp.  If your hair grows quickly, you may find that you replace your hair more often so that your bonds do not start to show as the hair they are attached to grows.  Extension removal is an often overlooked but critical part of the extension process.  Removal by an inexperienced or unfocused stylist can cause terrible breakage. longer.  To ensure a higher level of extensionist, we require our Beauty Heaven stylists go through a rigorous 6 month in-house training program in addition to the standard 3 day Great Lengths certification.  All Beauty Heaven stylists must meet our strict quality standards (which includes applying and removing my extensions) in order to offer this service to clients.

Posted under Hair Extensions

Best Kept Beauty Secrets0

The Secret: Great Lengths Hair Extensions

Great Lengths was first to develop a damage-free extension application technique using a keratin bond that seamlessly fuses with your natural hair.  Though I’ve seen imitations of this bond, I’ve never seen anything that works as well or produces such a natural look. In addition, Great Lengths has first pick in the European hair market which allows them to consistently provide higher quality hair than their competitors.

Why you may have never heard of them:  My experience is that women don’t generally reveal that they are wearing extensions – even to their close friends and family.  Take away that word of mouth and you’ve cut off one of the biggest sources for beauty tips.  Remember that scary lady I described in the beginning of this article?  I bet she was wearing extensions.

Check out videos of Beauty Heaven stylist, Kelsey Clay applying Great Lengths Extensions.

The Secret: Eyebrow Waxing/Shaping with Beauty Heaven Stylist, Alison Nadeau

When Alison first proposed that she offer eyebrow waxing at the salon I had my doubts.  After all, she didn’t have an Eastern European name like Anastasia or have an exotic accent like the technicians at exclusive places I’d been to in Beverly Hills and New York.  Six months later Alison is the favorite eyebrow shaper for most of our staff and many of our clients.  Last month I asked her to try to give me the arch I’d always wanted and other technicians had always failed to deliver.  The result?  The best eyebrow wax/shaping I’d ever had.

Why you may have never heard of her:  We, at Beauty Heaven, are guilty of keeping this secret as we don’t even have waxing listed on our menu.  Alison is pretty booked up with eyelash extension and hair service clients, but if you are in the salon for another service you should definitely try her out.

You can book waxing with Alison by calling Beauty Heaven at (949) 309-2462

The Secret: Pilates

I must admit that I was skeptical about Pilates.  I had been involved in fitness on and off since college where I taught aerobics classes and even ran my own exercise studio on campus.  Fifteen years ago, I integrated weights into my program – using all the same equipment that the big lifters in my gym used.  So most of the exercises in my one on one Pilates sessions seemed way too easy…I did have sore muscles sometimes but I didn’t often experience the point of “muscle failure” that weight lifting endorses.  Still, I gave it my all, attending 2 times a week for 3 months.  I couldn’t believe the results.  Everything tightened up.  My core strengthened dramatically and my balance (something that had been compromised by foot surgery 2 years ago) was better than ever.  I do recommend that you initially train one on one with an instructor who uses a reformer (that crazy looking contraption with cables) before you try any group classes.

Why you may have never tried it:  Like me, you probably thought it seemed too easy, However, Pilates originated as a program to rehabilitate injured dancers – so it focuses on strengthening all major muscle groups with exercises that won’t further strain an injury.  Rehabilitating dancers must keep there bodies lean and limber and their balance in place so Pilates complements this strengthening with stretching and core work.

My favorite Pilates teacher (private or semi-private):

Christi Bost (based in Newport Beach).  Christi is a dancer so she really understands the key concepts of Pilates.  Christi currently teaches private classes at some of Orange County’s top studios and gyms.  She is currently offering 2 complementary sessions for new clients at a beautifully newly constructed private Pilates studio at  Back Bay fitness.  Call Christi at (562) 607-5278 or e-mail her at Ijustwanadance@aol.com

My favorite Pilates Studio (for group classes): Triad Yoga & Pilates at 2626 Dupont Drive in Irvine. (949) 724-1479.

The Secret: Titan

My friend Cyndie had tried to get me into her med spa clinic for ages to try this laser treatment that had produced amazing results for her patients.  Cyndie is a Nurse Practitioner who used to work in the ICU at Loma Linda University Hospital so she is very conservative when it comes to the efficacy of aesthetics treatments, but I was still a bit skeptical.  Titan sounded reminiscent of Thermage (as seen on Oprah) which has fallen out of favor due to inconsistent results.  I believe that Thermage was only noticeably affective in 30% of the patients who received it.  I became eager to try Titan (well to try anything, really) when people started to ask me what was wrong all the time.  It seemed that my face was starting to droop in a way that produced a perma-frown.  The Titan treatment itself was easy and faster than I expected.  Cyndie used a sort of wand and moved it carefully over my face.  The “wand” emits infrared light rays so you can feel a bit of the heat sensation during the procedure.  Apparently these IR light rays heat the dermis layer of the skin which causes an immediate and ongoing reaction to the patient’s collagen.  My results were so immediate and intense that Cyndie and I started laughing at how easy taking 5-10 years off your face could be and the improvements continued over the next few months.

Why you may never have heard of it:  There are so many new laser skin treatments available that it is hard to keep track of what’s new and what works.  I’m in the Beauty Industry and yet I’m still confused by all the different options.  One of the problems is that competing manufacturers of these devices come up with their own nomenclature and branding for very similar things.  I can say that I’ve had very good results with devices made by Cutera which manufacturers Titan and other treatments.

For Titan treatments in the Orange County area I recommend Cyndie Chen at Laser Medical Center right near South Coast Plaza. (714)-662-7456.  She is so terrific that my Mom flies out from The Hamptons just to have Cyndie do her Titan.

Posted under Beauty Secrets

The Truth about a $450 Haircut0

I recently read an article in a local magazine about a very successful hairdresser who charges $450 for a haircut. “There can’t be many people who would pay that,” I thought, but I was wrong. Apparently this stylist is sextuple booked and he and his troupe of assistants hop among these six chairs all day long. This made my $65 haircut stand on end. It’s time for me to tell you the truth about what it takes to be a good haircutter and what you should be paying for.

What makes someone a good haircutter?
A good haircutter must be able to execute a variety of different shapes and techniques. Training at Paul Mitchell, for example, consists of mastering 9 different types of haircuts - each one consisting of multiple steps that have to be executed with complete precision for correct results. These cuts, combinations of these cuts, and slight variations serve as the basis for every haircut you or I have ever desired in our lives – even during that “Flock of Seagulls” phase.

If someone has a cosmetology license aren’t they trained in all these haircuts?
Probably not. Many, if not most, cosmetologists are not extensively trained in haircutting Cosmetology State licensing exams only require a very limited demonstration of haircutting prowess. Most cosmetology schools don’t bother to teach anything beyond what a stylist needs to know in order to get their license. Stylists from these schools are left to pursue extra training on their own.

What about all those celebrity hairdressers? They have to be good at haircutting, right?
I’ve had some very successful hairdressers tell me that they only know how to do one of those 9 haircuts I mentioned above. They just talk all their clients into getting it. I never mention any names, but there is a famous hairstylist who had his own show (and product line) who did the same haircut on every female client and renamed the cut after himself. That cut is actually one of the 9 combinations I mentioned above - a cut that any Beauty Heaven stylist can execute with ease. Perhaps I should rename it “The Ann.”

How can I tell if I’m getting a good haircut?
To create precise results, a good haircutter will initially cut your hair wet, blow your hair dry and then further cut it to refine and personalize your look. During this process, you should notice the stylist sectioning your hair (parting it and clipping it into large areas) and then cutting smaller sections within these areas. (One exception to this process is the cutting of extensions which is done on dry hair and uses slightly different cutting techniques.) A skilled stylist will also employ good communication skills to understand your goals and your lifestyle and they will talk to you all the way through the process. Many new Beauty Heaven clients have told me stories of a haircut received at a previous salon where all seemed well until the last 5 snips of the scissors produced drastically unexpected results. Ongoing communication will ensure that your final look is a combination of your input and the haircutter’s skill –not just the stylist’s vision of something that you may not be comfortable with.

What should determine the expense of the haircut?
Let’s assume the haircutter in question has the skills I described above. In that case, you can use a very simple factor to determine the value of your haircut - the time that the stylist (not their assistant) spends on it. A stylist at a $10 haircut establishment is trained to cut hair very quickly, in minimal steps, using the least amount of sections. It’s a brilliant idea that produces hundreds of very basic haircuts a day, however, results can be questionable and the shape will not last very long. A well trained stylist, using all the steps I described, will work on your hair for at least 45 minutes and produce a completely finished look that retains the desired shape even as it grows out.

But a hairdresser who is that busy and who charges $450 must be good right?
That’s not my experience and for a very simple, practical reason. A Hairdresser who has that many clients at once cannot focus entirely on you - leaving the door open for distraction and miscommunication. I once went to a stylist in Beverly Hills who was pretty famous. My first visit went okay, but before my second visit, he became very famous and the experience completely changed. He had 5 simultaneous bookings and “joked” about how he needed as much work as possible because his new found fame had lead him to remodel his house. I don’t know how his house turned out, but his distraction produced disastrous results on my hair. My advice is not to believe the hype. Find a hairdresser that can focus more on you than themselves.

To find out more information about Beauty Heaven, check out our website at www.Beauty-Heaven.net

Posted under Haircutting