Ladies and gentleman, start your irons. It’s holiday time and that means lots of opportunities to curl, twirl and wave your way to profit with updos, half-‘dos and special occasion finishing. Are you up to the challenge? Based on expert advice from Joico International Artistic Director Damien Carney and KMS International Artistic Director Edwin Johnston, here’s a test to measure your holiday styling know-how.

Special Styling Tips

Curl Clue
To create a strong curl, suggests KMS’ Edwin Johnston, apply a volumizer like KMS California addvolume Body Build Detangler to damp strands and dry the hair. Then mist individual sections with a heft enhancer like KMS California Sea Salt Spray, reheat the hair with a blow dryer, curl each section around a round brush, slip out the brush and replace it with a smaller Velcro roller. Wait until the hair cools completely before removing the roller.

Twist and Release
“You can’t go wrong with an elegant, Breakfast at Tiffany’s upsweep,” declares Joico’s Damien Carney, “but the key to making this look modern is to create a more casual version.” Once you backcomb and secure the look, use your fingers to loosen up the hair. “It’s OK if a few bits drop out,” says Carney, “and who cares if a few pins are showing? You really don’t want this style to look too perfect.”

Uplifting Updos
Keep in mind, says Johnston, that very few people can wear their hair pulled tightly off of their faces. Most people look better with a degree of volume and softness. One of his favorite techniques when creating a chignon is to divide the head horizontally at the recession points, clip up the top and form the twist with the bottom section. Then release the top. Working in subsections, use an iron to create loose waves or curls. Lightly backcomb the undersides of each texturized section, then draw back the top strands and loosely pin them into the chignon. “The result,” says Johnston, “is soft in front and clean and chic in the back.”

Spread the Word
If your clients only see you cutting and coloring when they’re in the salon, they may not be aware of your styling skills.Consider promoting your special occasion services with a Holiday Hair Night, suggests Johnston. Invite clients (and their friends) for consultations and demos, serve refreshments and take digital snapshots of the finished results. Then offer a discount if they book an appointment before they leave.

1. When designing an updo, place volume where the face narrows and take volume away where the face is:
A. Square
B. Widest
C. Likely to be kissed
D. Most exposed

2. A well-balanced style approximates the ideal facial shape, which is:
A. Square
B. Triangular
C. Oval
D. Heart-shaped

3. The best tool to use when backbrushing is:
A. A rattail comb
B. An oval Mason Pearson brush
C. A wire whisk
D. A round, boar bristle brush

4. Hair can be set with which of the following:
A. Curling iron
B. Velcro rollers
C. Flatiron
D. Hot rollers
E. All of the above

5. When setting hair or creating texture with a thermal tool, it’s important to let the hair cool before brushing, combing or styling, otherwise:
A. It will smell funny
B. It will change color
C. It won’t hold the set
D. The client won’t have time to finish her magazine

6. Which of the following should be assessed during an updo consultation:
A. The client’s face and body shape
B. The client’s hair length and texture
C. The client’s zodiac sign
D. The occasion
E. A, B and D

7. Most upstyles require the use of a thermal spray, a working spray and a finishing spray. A working spray:
A. Holds your pins
B. Controls the hair
C. Brushes out easily
D. Is lightweight and flexible so you can perfect the hair style
E. B, C and D

8. When applying finishing spray, hold the can of spray:
A. At arm’s length
B. As close to the hair as possible
C. Six-to-eight inches from the head
D. As tightly as you can


Answers: 1:B; 2:C; 3:B; 4: E; 5:C; 6: E; 7:E; 8:C

If you scored four or more correct answers, get ready to ka-ching in the New Year! You have the know-how to provide your clients with the looks that will turn heads at their holiday parties. Don’t keep all of that talent to yourself—consider conducting some updo clinics for colleagues in the salon so they can rock their styling skills, too!

If you scored fewer than four correct answers, grab a mannequin and get to work. Since these aren’t skills you perform in the salon every day, it might require some practice to perfect your looks. Start now and by Valentine’s Day, you’ll be the resident “romantic hair” specialist!