Career

Lend Me Your Hair: Conversation Starters

You’ve spotted a potential model and have worked up the con? dence to approach her, but what should you lead with? Try one of the following conversation starters to get the prospect in your chair:QUESTION: "Have you ever considered ...

Family Matters: Zak Mascolo's Journey to the Top

The Mascolo name is synonymous with hairdressing—and despite a sprawling family tree filled with creative masterminds, Zak Mascolo has charted his own path in this industry. Mascolo, creative director of the Americas for Toni&Guy, ...

Beauty Changes Lives: Paul Laurie's Story

The American Association of Cosmetology Schools is a network of more than 900 schools dedicated to providing excellence in beauty education and to championing a message of “beauty changes lives.” Paul Laurie of Buffalo, NY, ...

Model Behavior: Selecting and Securing the Perfect Model

Securing hair models is vital when it comes to learning new concepts and building confidence in your abilities in the beginning stages of your hairdressing career. As your career progresses, the need for models doesn’t diminish; success ...

5 Tips To Creating Beautiful Waves

Mustafa Avci (@hairsalonm), owner of Salon M in Brooklyn, NY and educator (check out www.mustafaworkshop.com), is the king of glamorous waves and large, elegant updos. He just shot these gorgeous looks and asked if we wanted to share with our ...

Nice and Pretty Blonde To WOW Blonde

Clare Ptolemy (@clarissad7) of the Branded Spade Salon in Texico, New Mexico, is doing a lot of great color in her small town. When we saw this transformation on her Instagram page, we had to know more. Here she shares the HOW TO in her own ...

What is Periscope, and How Can it Help Your Career?

Scoping Things OutIn the ever-changing social media landscape, new app Periscope lets you connect with people in real-time—but how can this help your career? Kelly Ehlers, president of social media firm Ideas that Evoke, helps make sense ...

Touches Of Color: Inspired By Nature

Michelle Vance, a member of the Goldwell Regional Artistic Team, created this beautiful look using shades inspired by nature including the vibrant colors of sunsets, feathers and the desert.Here she shares the formula for this finished look, ...

Tips from the Top: Industry Leaders Share the Ins and Outs of a Successful Career in Beauty

Managing Stress at the Salon

Stress on the job has been shown in study after study to be a major source of health problems. Salon professionals have always been fortunate that a major reason people report feeling stress on the job—a fear of being fired or laid ...

First Chair Summer 2015 Editor's Note: Connecting the Dots

Connecting the DotsMeeting someone for the first time is a unique experience. It can be a little uncomfortable and even awkward, but there’s no denying that spark of a connection when you meet someone you like—a best friend, ...

TRANSFORMATION: Adding Depth To A Sombre

Gabriel Samra (@gabrielsamra) of Gabriel Samra Hair Salon, Miami, Florida, felt his client was getting too blonde. She "has been progressively becoming blonde by doing ombré, then some balayage highlights. This last time she came to visit ...

TRANSFORMATION: Black Box To "On Fire" Red

Alisha Jared (@alishajaredhairartistry) from Siren Salon in Vancouver, WA, had fun with a challenge. "This client came to me as a birthday present from her mom.  Her inspiration picture was fire engine red, but she had fairly recently ...

TRANSFORMATION: Royal Sombre

Victoria Sears (@vickysecrets1011), a color specialist at Blondies, Anderson, South Carolina, says her ombre client was ready for something new.  "This client is salt and pepper grey all over so we usually color roots and apply her ...

The Pro Touch To The Perfect Blonde Sombre

Yadira Galvez (@Yadii_g ) of Jag Hair Salon, Poughkeesie, NY, says her client "had been coloring her hair at home using box color. She developed so many color bands and wanted an over all lighter more natural look." Galvez gave her the ...

TRANSFORMATION: Aqua To Purple/Silver Sombre

Jaymz Marsters (@jaymz.marsters) from Norfolk, England, says "My client needed something fresh and a complete change was due. For several months she had been having blue/green tones throughout her hair. Removing these from the hair was ...

From Red To Green To Faded To Red Again: THE JOURNEY

Sarah Naslund (@MyBigHairDay) of Athena Aveda Salon Spa, Boston, Mass, has been on quite a journey with salon guest, friend and tattoo artist Dia (@diamoellertattoo). "The first time I did her hair we did some subtle red highlights which ...