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 ...

7 Nail Shape & Polish Pairings

Let's Get DigitalMany clients now view a mani/pedi as maintenance—not luxury—and as such, mastering that skill set makes you an important member of a salon team even if you do spend most of your time doing hair. Nail shape ...

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 ...

Men to Be: Diana Schmidtke's Journey in Beauty

Men to Be: From assistant to celebrity stylist and men's-grooming expertIt all started innocently enough. Diana Schmidtke’s mother tells a story about her having her comb confi scated in fourth grade because she was combing hair too ...

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 ...

Academy Tour: Heather Chapman Braids & Bridal Workshop

Passion-PerfectAttending a class led by Heather Chapman is likely different than classes you’ve been a part of. First off—she’s particular. Even in her kit list, Chapman indicates specific brands of hairspray (and where ...

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 ...