Here are some friendly tips that I want to pass along that can help when finding and booking your next appointment at a salon.

Two Types of Salons

There are two types of salons and lots of folks don’t realize this when they go looking for a new stylist.

First there is a commission salon, where the stylist works on a commission basis. In a nutshell, the stylist makes a commission for the butt in the chair and the service the stylist is performing. (And for all the fabulous advice she/he gives you on your love life.)

Then there is chair rental. This is where the stylist is in business for herself and pays a monthly payment of rent to the salon owner.

I am a chair rental stylist. Which means I work when I have clients on scheduled days and if I don’t have clients I don’t go to work. Pretty sweet deal, huh! I am my own boss. I buy my own product and use what ever product I love best. I am responsible for my further education, promoting my bidnez, etc. If I want a day off I get to take it and come to work when I have clients.

The reason I’m writing this is to inform y’all and help you understand how to get yer fabulous butt in my fabulous chair. I get calls often from clients wanting to make same day appointments and I feel bad trying to explain that I’m not in the salon and I’m self employed and unfortunately can’t help them right at that minute.

So when looking for a salon the first thing is to try and figure out is if you are calling a commission salon or a chair rental salon if you need to get in that day. If you don’t need to get in that day, I would really love to hear from you. If you need work done that day, I will commiserate with you and seriously feel really bad about not being available. And then I’ll drink my latte.

Have you noticed this new tend walking the streets? Dark roots and lightened ends? It’s called a balayage or an ombre.

Sarah is sporting a bayalage above. Every person’s bayalage is going to look different, since it’s a type of painting on the hair that your stylist creates. Balayage is a French word meaning scanning or sweeping, and it refers to the motion we use with the applicator when we put the bleach on.

You can use any color you like. One of my favorites is brown to blonde, maybe a bit sun kissed, like the picture of Sarah.

I also really love the brown with just the tips blonde like the second picture. There is a lot of control over how the application is done. I can carefully take just pieces of hair, a few strands or a clump, and apply lightener from roots to ends.

And if you want a bold statement take a look at the dark hair with the red ombre at the bottom. All of these looks are way less up keep then the failure foil we are used to.

Hair color is clearly not what it used to be—a conservative all-over look. If you want to stand out from the crowd, consider seeing me for a bayalage or ombre and let’s paint you a picture of hairstyle success!

This is another recent cut I did. I love how her lovely, shiny, full hair falls. Gorgeous color too!

I sometimes get the question about whether any particular hairstyle or haircut or coloring makes me nervous to do. After the years I’ve been in the biz, not really. But recently I had a haircut that scared the bejeesuz out of me.

This is my darling girlfriend. We just celebrated our third anniversary and this was my FIRST TIME CUTTING OFF HER HAIR! I never get scared to chop-chop-chop on clients’ hair but I have to live with this one.

Tessa Before

This was a HUGE change for her and Tessa hates change. I was so very proud of her that she just took a big gulp and did it. She looks amazing, don’t you think? She said she was ready for a new beginning, damn, here it is.

Tessa After

Y’all know that I love cutting and styling curls. Lots of stylists find them a pain but I think they’re beautiful. Curly hairstyles are not difficult and they’re really fun. Or maybe I don’t find them difficult BECAUSE I find them fun.

I know I wrote a curly hair blog before and it was such a success for getting you curly headed clients into my chair that I thought I would try this again. Because I love to cut curly hair so much I wanted to share this client of mine with you.

This client came to me the first time very nervous, as most of you are with curls. She had long, almost all-one-length hair and needed a little update. She’s a Mary Kay lady, a business woman, and may I add, very fashionable. So we needed to make her hair match her personality.

She brought me a photo she found online that simulated this hair cut but in the photo the hair was pinned up. After much discussion and letting the nerves settle we began.

I duplicated the simulated style in to a real hair cut and this cut was so much fun, she was just beaming when I was finished.

We stacked it up in the back and put a pretty steep angle to it. While styling, I used a curl cream product, defused with a blow dryer, then for her bangs and front facial framing, we flat-ironed those pieces straight for style. Finished up with a little teasing for fullness and hairspray. I think she looks fabulous.

Putting a little bounce in your hair can put more bounce in your step. Just look at this gorgeous smiling face. See how I get to end my days at the salon?

Are you so sick of your hair and in need of a change but not willing to loose your length. BANGS are the littlest big change you can make. Here is my dear client and friend, Sarah who was really scared to make the change but had the ovaries to give it a try.

“They’ll grow back or I can push them to the side, right?” she asked as she sat on the toilet in her bathroom, holding her breath. Sarah is a beautiful girl and could shave her head and still be gorgeous.

You can see that we didn’t shave her head cuz that would have just been cruel. But I really love the bangs on her. In the second photo with her new bangs, you’ll note that I have also given her an Ombre, which is a super easy, low-maintenance hair color for those who are on a budget or just hate getting there hair done every four to six weeks.

So next time you want to make a change but are feeling a little timid, you only have to work up half the courage to come in and let me play with your bangs.

This was one fun night at my bff’s house doing an Ombre and foils on the girls. They loved it and felt so felt so pretty.  Warmed my heart to be able to have a girls night like this. And the thing is is that I know they will always remember it.

 That’s all they really want,
Some fuuuuuuuun,
When the working day is done,
Girls – they want to have fun,
Oh girls just want to have fun.

Girls, they wanna,
Wanna have fun, girls,
Wanna have fun.

That’s all they really waaaaant,
Some fuuuuuun.

When the working day is done,
Girls – they want to have fun,
Oh girls just want to have fun,
They want to have fun,
They want to have fun…

I’m so excited to post that I am moving to a new little salon in North Tacoma! Beginning the first of November, I’ll be snipping your locks and making you beautiful at Sabbatique Hair Studio. You’ll be thrilled to know that it’s not far from Baroque, so it’s not like my big move from Seattle to Tacoma.

Sabbatique Hair Studio

2712 North 21st Street, Suite B

Tacoma, WA 98406

I am very grateful for my experience working at Baroque and will miss all my girls very much.  But I believe this will be a very good move for me and my clients, and I believe that it will open new opportunities for my future as a stylist.

I know you will fall in love with this cozy new salon the second you walk in the doors just as I did.  My start date will be November 1st, 2011.  My work schedule as of now will be Sundays, Mondays, and Tuesdays.

Just look at how charming and cozy this place is. I love it! It has a great vibe, is a great location, and I can’t wait to get started there.

Same contact cell phone number: 206-303-9152. My returning clients can still find me easy.

I’m so excited to see you all there very soon!

I went to school and worked on Capitol Hill in Seattle for about five years. I didn’t actually go to school for five years, but you know what I mean. I’ve put in my time in the LGBT hood.

If you have visited the area you will see pretty much every hairstyle but the three in this post are particularly popular styles seen on heads walking the street and in the clubs. I LOVE to cut this way and I’m oh-so-confident in my ability with the Asymmetrical cut, the FauxHawk, and the Fashion Mullet.

Asymmetrical

I now live in Tacoma and don’t see as much of these styles, but when I do, all eyes on them. They’re apparently not Tacoma-chic and are vaguely threatening in the sleepy hoods of the South Sound.

I used to have the fohawk and the fashion mullet myself but have since grown my hair out.

But while posting this I am very temped to go back to my former freaky self. These cuts are fun, edgy, and different from just your normal, long layered haircuts or your typical male, straight edge, clean cuts. That’s why you see so many of them up on the Hill in Seattle.

Fashion Mullet

I suppose there’s something to be said for the fact that when you’re surrounded by edgy hairstyles, inked skin, and wild clothing that you’re not really being edgy at all.

It’s kind of like the very conforming non-conformism of adolescence. No one really wants to be different than their peers; they just want to be different from the people they already feel different from (parents, teachers, cops).

That’s just natural. We are, after all, social beings who conform to feel part of a group. We’re wired that way by evolution.

But on the other hand, we all look for that touch of individualism in our natural conformity. We want that something in our hair, on our skin, or in our clothing that is just enough to make a statement that says, “Yes, I’m part of the clan. But aren’t I cute?”

FauxHawk or Fohawk

I understand it’s not for everyone to stick out like a trash-queen at a performance of Aida. But I can help you find that little statement of individuality. Maybe you’ll be the only one to notice and that’s OK too. If it makes you feel good during that passing glace at your reflection in the salon window, my job is done.

Depending on your job or who you are, you may want all the attention, a little of it, or none at all. But if you love these cuts as much as I do I’m ready to give it to ya. Gimme a call.