Talk to The Scissors hair and beauty blog

Our Way Of Doing Color

2/28/2019

I was speaking with a client yesterday who told me "When my friends hear that I spend 3 hours at your salon for a cut and color they can't believe it! What takes so long?" It's not the first time I have heard that. Good question, right? Well, let me explain:
To begin with, you should be aware of our customer service ethic. At hair design and color studio, we are old school. We believe in total customer satisfaction. We believe in doing things the right way, not the easy way. We believe that you get what you pay for. We believe in investing in top quality products, the best hair color, and education. We stand behind our work because at the end of the day, your crown is our signature and...we like to sleep at night knowing that we have put forth our best effort for you, the client. (Think L.L. Bean and Nordstrom)
Now when you are getting your hair colored at hair design and color studio, you will notice a difference. We use the best, most conditioning hair color and apply it meticulously - using a brush. While applying your hair color, our sections are so fine that you can see through them! It is a pain staking process which takes time. We don't just breeze through your hair with a bottle and throw on some color! Every hair gets saturated to ensure coverage and where applicable, coverage of grey. This and proper color formulation are the keys to our success.
So when you hear that a hair cut and color take 3 hours at hair design and color studio, and you are used to being in and out of your previous salon in 1.5 hours for the same services, don't be surprised and don't be scared! Remember, we take our time to ensure that everything is done properly, the way WE would want our hair done. Short cuts are not allowed, beautiful, well done hair is!
We also do not double book our clients. When you are here, it's all about you and your hair. You are not left waiting or being rushed in and out. Your color service is carefully watched, while you relax with a cup of Harney & Sons tea and a snack. Good hair takes time. Sure, we may charge a little more, and, when you see the results of long lasting grey coverage and a hair cut that grows out gracefully and looks great, even after 7 weeks, you know that it is well worth it....YOU are worth it!

Assisting the Legend - Beth Minardi

2/12/2019

Last week I had the privilege and honor of spending a day assisting one of the world's greatest hair colorists - Beth Minardi, at her Madison Ave. location in NYC. Beth is one of the foremost experts and educators in hair color. One of her degrees is in chemistry and she has been a colorist since 1978.
It was a busy and exciting day and I learned much, working along side this color legend. Even though my salon is located in humble Manchester, CT, I felt at home in this posh and bustling salon. It was a day full of hands on assisting, observation, and conversation. It truly was an experience I will treasure always and never forget. Here's to you, Beth Minardi - for being the lady and color genius that you truly are!

All About the Bangs!

1/18/2019

There are SO many ways to cut bangs and as you know, sometimes bangs can be the most challenging thing to deal with! In my many years as a hairdresser, I have run into countless bang tragedies! LOL Sometimes they are too short, sometimes they are waaaay too thick (taking too much length away from the sides of the hair), sometimes they are not angled correctly and therefore, don't perform as they should. The list goes on and on and on....
There is a proper time and procedure for every type of bang; the key is having experience to know what and when to do for the look desired. And now for the secret....listen closely...BANGS CAN MAKE OR BREAK a look! Yes, that is correct. You can have a beautiful haircut, but if the bangs are not right, the haircut is not right and everything is thrown off.
So much has to do with a creative eye (my job!) And then there is client preference (your job!)
Face shape, hair growth patterns, maintenance level, and the overall design of the haircut are all factors in determining what technique should be used in creating the perfect bang - every time.
Currently, layered bangs are hot, although I have been doing them for years. Layering the bangs gives a softness and airy feeling to them and breaks up heaviness in an otherwise blunt look. Great option for a straight across bang. Curtain bangs are in, too - long bangs, parted in the middle and draped to each side - great with longer layered hair. Then of course, there are Side bangs in every length and thickness you can imagine. Angled to sweep to one side, if they are done correctly, they will sweep with ease across the forehead and give a beautiful, soft look. Side bangs are great with so many looks; bobs, pixies, long layers.... They are great for offsetting a wide face and square jawline.
Bangs can hide flaws, accent assets, make statements and be your best friend, truly. IF you know what to ask for. I always say - be prepared, do your homework, bring photos, PINTREST, have an in depth consultation and if everything feels comfortable - Go for it! Cut those BANGS!! And don't forget to have your stylist show you how to style them! :)

Bob Hair Cutting Class Coming Up!

8/8/2018

This year is really flying, and although I don't want to make it go any faster, I am SO looking forward to the month of October, when I will be back at ION Studio in NYC, taking a hair cutting class; all about Bob Hair Styles! As you recall, back in May, I attended a hair cutting class all about Shag Hair Cuts. Well, that was a game changer for me! Messy, lived in Shags, created using a razor - the techniques I learned were so fresh and current. I am sure that this class will be no different. Bob hairstyles are timeless and can be done so many different ways. Being that ION Salon is in the heart of SOHO, NYC - the fashion mecca - and the educators are top notch, world class - I am so excited to see what I will learn at this class! Stay tuned!

Observations from NYC

5/3/2018

So I was in NYC yesterday for my haircut, and as always, it was an exciting trip! I love taking in the latest trends going on in the heartbeat of the city; it can be so inspiring. Here's what I observed yesterday:

BANGS!!! Yes! Heavy fringes were everywhere - (think classic Louise Brooks, Cleopatra, etc.) Really borrowing from Pin Up Girl style - there was lots of long hair with awesome, heavy, blunt bangs! I've always loved that look, although it's not for everyone.
Work out pants with full leg panels of mesh. Yep, so many people had them on. You know, the black spandex-y gym pants and on the sides there are full panels of see through black mesh. I wouldn't do that one, save it for the gym! Not only that, it was 93 degrees and too hot in my book, to be walking around in body hugging black spandex gym pants!
Big, baggy, flowery peasant dresses! Think flower sacks with flower patterns. Nope, not flattering on me. Maybe if you're young, tiny, and have a great hair cut. When I went in Zara girls were flocking to these dresses.
White, baggy peasant blouses, almost looking Puritan-like. I have to admit, I tried one on in Uniqlo...and quickly took it off! Not for me! Been there, did that in the '70s, when I was oh so much younger and care free....no need to re-visit!

The coolest thing/person I saw was a young guy at a construction site, with a flaming (and I mean flaming!) ORANGE mullet! I had to say something, so I said "WHOA.....That is SOME HAIR!!!" Of course he said, "thanks a lot!" seemingly glad for the recognition of his work of art. It takes some guts to wear a flaming orange mullet on a construction site,. Wish I had gotten a photo!

The One Thing You Need For Hair Success

4/26/2018

As I think about it, in all my years being a hair stylist, I can narrow having a successful "hair outcome" down to primarily one thing; having an image (or images) of what you - the client - are looking to achieve! I know it sounds simple, but it really IS that simple! I can't tell you how many times I've done a consultation with a client and I think we are on the same page: "Oh, you want a BOB, then?" "Yes! That's what I want!" Then I show her a photo of a Bob and she almost has a heart attack! "That's waaaaay too short! I could never do that!" LOL Good thing I double checked! Communication is key, but a picture really is worth a thousand words. You know - is it there or their? Is it great or grate? They both sound the same but mean totally different things. So please, please, please....keep this in mind: the next time you go to a salon for the first time, or when you go to your next appointment with a new look in mind, BRING A HAIR PHOTO! This will give your hair stylist a crystal clear idea of what you are looking for and save much time and headache. And with so many websites dedicated to hair styles, there is no shortage of photos and ideas. Keep in mind, however, some looks may not be achievable that day and may take time. It is your stylist's responsibility to explain what can and cannot be done!

Is Ombre' Hair Out?

3/7/2017

Is Ombre' hair out? I've been thinking for some time that the Ombre' trend is indeed an over and done with deal and my latest trip to NYC last weekend seems to confirm my suspicions. Everywhere I looked, I observed natural, subtly contrasted hair. Hair definitely had more of "the way nature intended" kind of look. Really, I can't say that I'm not pleased. For the past year or so I had been noticing more subdued hair color in fashion and celebrity magazines and the introduction of babylights (hilights done to mimic a youthful hair color) has been monumental in achieving this look. Well, yes....I DID see maybe 2 Ombres in New York, but they seemed rather out of place. What does this mean for hair? Subtle! Natural! Dimensional! Balayage is still alive and well and so much fun to do! But with a lighter hand and more strategically placed. Think hair with fine pieces one to two shades lighter, finely woven throughout. Ahhh...perfection! The added bonus of beautifully blended natural hair color is that the grow out is so much more friendly and the maintenance is so much lower. A win-win situation, no?
So good bye Ombre! Hello, natural, subtle, beautiful you!

Why I Charge More For A Haircut

10/21/2016

Do you want an ok haircut or an excellent haircut?
Do you care about your hair and how it looks from day to day?
Do you want ease of styling and a haircut that looks great as it grows out?
Do you want a customized, fit to your features, detailed just for you kind of haircut?
If you've answered yes to any of these questions, read on!

Here, at hair design & color studio - we do things differently.
First off, we never double book clients. That means that when you are in our salon, the focus is on you and only you! A typical haircut appointment is booked for one hour, sometimes more, if you have lots of hair! There are no fast, spray and cut appointments. No client leaves with a wet head of hair. Each and every time you come in for your haircut appointment, we do a consult, to see how your hairstyle is working for you and what changes you might want to make. There is not any "same thing again?" going on! With each haircut appointment, you receive a consult, shampoo, conditioning, cut, blow dry, (flat iron, if necessary to the finished look), and dry cutting/detailing to complete your look. As you can see, there is a lot of thought, effort, skill, education, and passion that goes into each and every haircut that we do!
We do not a la carte haircut prices - as in - just a wash and cut - one price, while a blow dry is optional and extra, as well as flat ironing is extra. Actually salons which do that are usually charging MORE than we do, you just don't realize how the services add up!
If you are a salon value price shopper, then we are not the hair salon for you. If, however, you are a hair savvy, fashion conscious client, looking for quality, artistry, and excellence - you will see the value in what we do and we will be a great match!

The old addage: "You get what you pay for" is so very true, and hair is no exception
to that rule.

So...ROCK ON with your hair!

Does Hair Really Grow Faster In The Summer?

7/19/2016

Summer is here and the question of the day is: "Does hair really grow faster in the summer?"
When I first heard this, I thought "Well, that's an old wive's tale if I've ever heard one!" Then I went for a doctor's visit and out of the clear blue, my doctor started telling me that hair grew faster in the summer! Ok! Have to listen to the expert! Many of my clients come in and tell me that their hair grows faster in the summer, and I believe now that they are right! In an article from the Huffington Post, this is what Elizabeth Cunnane Phillips, a trichologist at the Philip Kingsley Clinic in New York City has to say: “There may be a slight increase in the rate of growth,” says Cunnane-Phillips, “but it’s really marginal. A natural hormonal shift and increase in UV may contribute to some changes, but again I must stress it’s marginal.” Hmmm...coming from someone who has studied hair growth for the past 22 years, I suppose you have to consider what she is saying. She goes on to say: mor? “More highlights and sun oxidation can cause the demarcation between base and scalp to be more apparent than in the winter months,” notes Cunnane-Phillips. “This contributes to the myth.”
So....you be the judge. I don't know, I'm kind of siding with my clients and my doctor. Either way, it's a subject that we are all interested in and have varied opinions about.

The same haircut twice...An impossibility?

4/28/2016

"What is this haircut called? I want the exact same thing next time. Will you remember what you did?"
How often I hear this. And I most often hear it from a client who comes in maybe 3 times a year! So what are the chances? Good question, right? And one I am sure everyone has pondered, or has experience with.

Let me start by saying that the exact same haircut twice literally (IMHO) is impossible. Hair designers who are truly artistic tend to look and evaluate a client on an appointment by appointment basis and given that particular appointment, engineer the look best suited for that client's need on that given day. Often times, there is an artistic flow and we can get lost in the moment of creating. What results is a beautiful new look with that designer's personal "stamp" or touch, which is unique to them and special for you. No two hair designers are the same and that personal touch is theirs alone and will not be duplicated. So when I hear "Thank you for cutting my hair -I will have my old hairdresser follow the lines", I am amused, as this is impossible. Just like fingerprints, hair designers have a personalized touch and no two are alike.

Now that we have that out of the way, what haircut and style is working for one appointment might not work for the next appointment. Why? Things change! The artistic eye is never the same from day to day. Did Van Gogh paint the same painting every time? Of course not! But, you can tell his painting style when you see it, and that is his personalized mark. It is the same thing with hair cutting! Now I am not talking about a client who comes in with waist length hair and only wants a trim but walks out with a pixie! That is called not listening to what the client wants. No, I am saying that no matter what length of hair you have, your haircut will not be the same every time and it is best to realize that and make peace with it.

A truly good hair designer will do a consultation with you on not only your first visit, but every visit - to determine your desires. That includes listening and giving input and ideas. Once you are agreed upon a look, I have found the best results are achieved by not constraining the hair designer, but letting them be creative and do their job!

I go to NYC for my haircuts. I always bring photos of what I am looking to have done. I don't think I have ever walked out with my hair looking exactly like my photos, but I always walk out with awesome hair - a look created with artistic skill and expertise, suited to MY features and personalized just for me. After I show my photos, I give my stylist creative license to do what she sees best and to create it in any way she chooses. It wasn't always this way. I had to learn the hard way. When I used to "direct" my hair stylist and offer suggestions on how to cut my hair and what to use to cut my hair, it was almost always a disaster. No matter how famous the salon, no matter how talented the hairdresser, when I didn't give creative license, it never worked. So... I learned. I keep my mouth shut, go with the flow and I now LOVE my hair...every time! :)

I say this because I know it works. And I want you to know it works. And I want you to know that if you are in a hair designer/client partnership with me, I work this way. I care about and love doing hair and because of that, you will get my best every time. You need to trust me and put your hair in my hands. Does that mean the same look every time? No, but let me be creative and do my job and I think you will love your hair.