Advanced education with Eufora

Eufora products...We love them!  Hands down the most unique product line around!  SO glad I found them so long ago!


Their education is amazing as well!  Just when we think we have had every class to teach us how to cut long hair...They give us a full day of cutting long hair, with techniques that are new to us.  Every time she taught a new zone, that's why I love them...they teach systems.  Systems are like structure or steps to a haircut...it's very important to be able to replicate the haircut..instead of being a "one hit wonder."  And the systems make sense, like architecture for the hair!   Holding the hair out from where it lives (something I always pay close attention to, since day one!) and taking into consideration the shape and curves of the head, to knowing which pitch to hold your fingers to get the hair to do what you want it to!

Our educator was so passionate, it got all of us fired up..in a good way;)...We have been on such a positive roll that this was a perfect end to the last month.  In our class was a 54 year veteran of hairstyling.  Carmen from Syracuse,  I think he is so adorable.  Our educator was really honored to have him there, and she mentioned how humbled she felt that, here a young educator like her, had someone so seasoned in her class...She talked about being humble and about not having an ego.   She was a very smart young woman!

When we were done, we all went back to work, busy as ever and have already all put our techniques to use!   Steph, had Taylor do the haircut we learned, on her.  It looks awesome!  All in all the day was amazing, it was great to be all together in a big group too! 

We are very grateful for Eufora and Paramount Beauty Distributor  for bringing the Eufora Global educators to Syracuse!!

WE cannot wait for VIA to come, we will all be taking that class hopefully!  VIA is: Integrating the precision and strength of British foundation with the elegant drape, grace and flair of the French style, a meticulously crafted hair cutting system has evolved; VIA - Versatile, Innovative and Architectural. For the stylist who wants to go from good to great, this systematic approach to hair cutting teaches how to create hair movement through the cut and not the finish. This system provides the ultimate in speed, accuracy and client satisfaction. This exclusive and advanced system will allow you to bring individuality and uniqueness to every cut with a profound understanding and the expertise to create what you envision.

Course includes lecture, demonstration and hands-on instruction.
3-day course: $775.00

Hello Ipad mini!

 


We have a new tech "tool" at the salon.  In addition to our full size Ipad, which is meant for kids to browse through when getting a haircut or to find that style you've been seeing on the red carpet...all at the touch of a finger!  We now have an Ipad mini!!

This little mini is for everyone, but mostly for the team.  It's to keep updated on social networking, being able to post last minute openings or specials, taking pics of their work easily (instead of having to fish out their phones,) not to mention if the girls and guy want to in their spare time, watch some hair videos or tutorials or brush up on their product knowledge for our awesome haircare lines...this is what it's for!  

One great use that I know will benefit clients is PINTEREST!  We have a very active pinterest account, it's a great tool for in the salon, think of it as a  visual tool.  To explain Pinterest the simplest way is to compare it to bulletin boards.  Imagine we have a room in the salon that has a bunch of bulletin boards for visual inspiration, each of our stylists have their own, there is color inspiration, fashion inspiration, oodles of style boards..anything, the skies the limit on this site!

How we use it:
Bijou has a pinterest account with our logo and each stylist has their own board
We have one marked Bijou color inspiration, Bijou Style, Updo’s at Bijou, salon decor, etc.

Now imagine that you tell your Bijou stylist at your appt, “Next time, I want to change my whole look..can you start thinking of ideas for me”?  We can create a whole pinterest board just for you!  We also have an app that we can take a picture of you and try out different hair color ideas.  IF you are going for a big change, let your stylist play around with some of her ideas and then you can look at yourself with different options!

If you want to have a chuckle, click here!

While we are already very active on social networking, I know you don't always get to see the work of everyone, this is mainly because not everyone has fancy phones or are super adept at making collages.  Now with our little team tool, we can all be represented equally:)  Expect to see work from your favorite girls and guy!

Mini or micro crimper...new trend or no way?!

So while visiting France this year, we attended a wedding.  I was SO excited to see what was done with the brides hair (my new sister-in-law), I had fun imagining what I would have done with it.  She has hair very similar to mine, fine..but with some decent body.

When it was finally time to see the beautiful bride, her hair looked amazing....I first saw her across the judges chambers (the only official way to get married...getting married in church is only for tradition..they did both:)  The style was similar to what we do here, but up close I saw some interesting differences.  I kept trying to zoom in with my camera on the hair, so I could look closer, finally I just grabbed her and poked through her hair.  THEY used a crimper!!  I hadn't seen crimpers since the 80's!!!  (While they were a short lived fad, I actually loved it because they gave me the illusion of thick hair:)  Okay, this I had to investigate when I got back to the states!  The crimping is not screaming (like Miranda's picture below;) But it's done to add oomph to each strand.
 


While I was in France, I kept thinking about the crimping, I couldn't believe that they used a crimping iron..I wondered if it would make it to the states...how long would it take??  I have to admit, I kind of thought it was just this ONE salon that did it and that no where else in France would dare to crimp hair.....Imagine my surprise when I got back home and saw this photo on the Bumble and bumble facebook page!  It was the same type of crimping...I contacted the stylist who did the look for Bb and she told  me she used a "mini crimper" or "micro crimper".  I HAD TO HAVE ONE!


 

So of course I bought one...And experimented on our cute Bijou girl ~ Miranda!  We thought the whole head looked like feathers...Boy did it add volume!!  Her head of hair had quadrupled!

 While we have not used it a ton...when it did come in very handy was for the summer theater production of Les Miserables!  We were lucky enough to style the hair for the "lovely ladies"...Since they were prostitutes, we had full artistic control to do whatever we wanted.  SO FUN! It really creates awesome texture and feel.

 I'm hoping someone comes in for a special Halloween event where we can re-create something like this!!?  Anyone willing to come in for fun and let us play?

Ombre's at Bijou salon

om·bré

adjective \ˈäm-ˌbrā\

Definition of OMBRÉ

:  having colors or tones that shade into each other —used especially of fabrics in which the color is graduated from light to dark

— ombré noun

Origin of OMBRÉ

French, past participle of ombrer to shade, from Italian ombrare, from ombra shade, from Latin umbra — more at umbrage

First Known Use: 1893

I can't seem to find the year that the Ombre trend started.  I remember someone calling and asking for it, we googled it.  Seemed easy enough (in theory)...Let me attest, after that first one, we booked several classes.  I can safely say, we have Ombre experts at Bijou Salon in Skaneateles!  We've done so many, that, last week I heard a customer who was there from East Syracuse, saying she heard we were the best at Ombre's!  (What a compliment!)  After I heard her say that, I got to thinking..hmm...Monday BLOG POST idea!  (You really can't imagine how many times a day I say that;)

 

So thinking about Ombre's, I started to research who started them.  Who was the first celebrity (you know it always starts there, Ombre...The "Jennifer Aniston" haircut, etc.  I recall my favorite celebrity - Drew Barrymore!  (I remember seeing it and thinking, Oh is she just being lazy?  Then when I heard it was called the Ombre, I thought...hmmm a fancy word for growing out your roots, genius!)  But really I couldn't find a definite answer on when the trend was started and who started it.  Hmm, I guess the internet doesn't have all the answers.  (Or more likely, I just couldn't dig deep enough:)



Have Ombre's always existed?    It appears so, I mean look around...flowers, grass, trees..rocks...I think if you look hard enough, just like with any artist inspiration, you can see things around you that were inspired by natural Ombre's.

Then the Ombre trend just exploded and it appears that in one way or another it will stick around.

Look at all the amazing things done with this technique...(I'm very partial the sequined purple ombre dress, some of our high school Juniors this year should look into that!)

Here are some ombre's we have done over the years...JUST a FEW!

WHILE OMBRE'S can be stunning...They can also be disastrous!  THIS is why you should always seek a professional.  I'm not kidding when I said we had to learn the technique, it can be done so many different ways and we've had countless classes on perfecting it!  Scroll to the bottom to see OMBRE DON'TS!

 


Okay you've seen the good...now for just a couple bad's...do not try this at home kids.. you could end up like this!

Positive energy

 

  Positive energy is contagious!  We at Bijou always try to be positive, but sometimes life and little bumps happen!

Recently a client whom I admire greatly, suggested to use a Reiki master to cleanse our salon.  This was an easy decision because I had thought lightly of it, but when she suggested it, I took it as (a sign) the right thing to do.  It was also easy because our Reiki master was also a dear client to the salon.  

I'm not unfamiliar with Reiki, but never had it done.  15 years ago I had a client who talked to me a lot about it, as she was doing her Phd in energy work. It's so very fascinating!  She went on to work in hospitals and huge corporate centers. I don't know how it works, but I believe with all my heart it's legit.

Our friend and reiki master came into the salon one night and cleared the energy, it was quite fascinating and uplifting.  We all felt better and our state of mind was positive and amazing!!!!  This was a good and cleansing ritual and we are grateful that!

Over the next week, we have people coming in and saying it feels so different in here, it feels so happy and nice!  One person who came in off the street said, I do energy work and I want you guys to know, whatever you have going on, it's all positive and great!  She said she felt our positive energy from the sidewalk outside!

Good things keep coming to us!

We have hired three new wonderful additions to the Bijou team!

We have Samantha who is from England, she has 12 years experience and is calming soothing and professional.  She is another previous salon owner from Geneva.  (These are reason I believe I have guardian angels:)

Next we have Michael who is a younger stylist (2 years) but with great education background and a lot of natural talent.  After beauty school he attended at 3 month advanced education with Aveda Institute in Austin Texas.   We've been wishing for a guy for a long time and are very excited to have this new energy in the salon!

Then last but not least, after we hired Michael and Samantha, two of my current Bijou girls asked me to interview one last person.  A person that they both loved working with at a previous job.  We met with Cindy and loved her too.  She has worked at JC penny salon in Auburn and has a very large clientele already.  She too is calming, professional and we are all very excited to meet her clientele!

 

All in all, we are blessed and we are grateful!