SAY U HAIR

CAN BLOW DRYING DAMAGE THE HAIR? - FACTS YOU NEED TO KNOW

2019-11-19T05:15:00.002-08:00

This has always been a controversial topic especially for people with virgin hair that have a no-heat policy because of "thermal damage" who have recently realized that they still need to use a blow dryer every now and again.

Their fears are founded but the fact that they may have missed is that blow dryers DO NOT cause damage but the person behind the dryer.

Blow dryers are like guns; in the hands of a professional it delivers maximum results, but the opposite is the case in the hands of an amateur.

Here are some questions that we should be able to answer if we must use blow dryers as stylists.

How are you supposed to hold a blow dryer?
What angle do you point it away or on the client?
Where do you apply the heat?
How do you use the regulator? (using the cool and hot air to achieve the perfect finish?)
What is the ratio of cool to hot air when blow drying?
What direction do you brush to close the cuticles?

Ahhhh!!! Are you for real?” you'd say; I've not even scratched the surface of what you should know before handling a dryer or where to start from before trying to blow dry a person or client.

These are amongst the basic classes we teach at the Academy. We rehabilitate "experienced" stylists and teach the new ones to start right.

Send an email to sayuhair@gmail.com for details on our trainings and private classes.

9 WAYS TO RUN A SUCCESSFUL SALON BUSINESS.

2019-11-19T04:42:00.002-08:00

Starting a Salon business whether it be barbering, spa, nail, weavon, makeup or Hair is always a venture most people are not prepared for psychologically.

I don't know how we got to the point of assuming its a no-brainer. A mistake I also made 13 years ago. You see when you have an 8 (or 7 in the case of bankers or some parastatals) to -6 job , have a passion or just a stay at home mum who wants to start a business; The need for a backup plan or extra income makes us look for businesses that appear to be low risk and can be managed with little supervision or no experience. As much as this is the right step, we have erroneously put Salon business as such and this has led to the frustration and closing of many businesses in the industry.

Here are the 9 ways to running a successful Salon business.

1. A salon business is first a "business". So, it requires more than getting a space, furnishing and buying equipment. You have to first remove that idea from your head and transfer it to paper detailing how everything is suppose to work. The day to day operations and administration.

2. Salon business is dynamic. Meaning that your average business structure or plans may not be effective pending on how relevant you want to become in the industry. There is a business course dedicated to salon business. Salon 360 is a course I suggest every person who is running or intends to run this business to take this class FIRST before spending their first or another dime.

3. Who to hire: The type of salon you want to run determines; your staff, the equipment you buy, the level of skill or education required and how you go about employing for your salon business.

4. Staff responsibility: Staffing should be done based on responsibilities you have clearly earmarked for EACH staff. Meaning that the recruitment process plays an important role in the success of your business.

5. Have a mentor, teacher, coach or support group (like the alumni groups we create after salon 360 class) in the industry that you can communicate with. Some of the people in our groups have scaled through your current situation and can give you valuable information.

6. If you are already in business. Get clarity with courses like Salon Business Education and leave the saturated market.

7. If you are having management or staff behavioral problems. It shows a lack of policies and processes, or absence of an execution plan.

8. Build a communication channel for your staff and clients. This means you pay attention to not just how your staff treat each other or the clients, but also what you put out on media.

9. If you want to run a professional salon, price and good location shouldn't be your only USP. Finally, if you have had some level of education or have put in a good fortune in setting up your salon, you can't afford to run or price like the skilled person down the street.

They will beat you at being cheap. Your overhead costs are different and your clients too. Remember people pay for the value they think they get from doing business with you, not what you think you are offering them.

If you need help creating or executing any of these processes, we are here to help you. just email sayuhair@gmail.com or call +2348097829980

HOW TO RUN A SUCCESSFUL SALON BUSINESSES IN NIGERIA 2019

2018-12-23T15:23:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone so we are going to talk about running a profitable salon business in Nigeria.

Being able to succeed in salon business takes a lot especially if you are not a known brand. It is assumed to be the easiest business to start here which is why we have a lot of failed businesses in the industry .

A lot of factors militate against salon owners in Africa all ranging from not having a professional salon businesses structure to not having effective regulatory, administrative and operational systems in place. Below are some reasons why your salon business may not be successful in 2019.

1. People assume salon business is a no brainer. So when they think of that side hustle or that business they can do while working; salon business comes to mind. There is no consideration for a business structure, creating staff responsibilities, understanding that there are different types of salons operation , that they need to structure their business around what they want to run and understanding the value they want to offer. It goes all the way to understanding the type of customers that you need to sell to.

2. Once people get a salon location or facility, next thing they do is to hire the staff. Now don't get me wrong hiring staff is a vital part of your business but the problem is “the how". Most salon owners just look for people with experience, skill, people who have managed salon businesses for someone or who was a key stylist. Most people don't know that there more details required. Like their technical and administrative capacity. These are as important as the skills they possess.

3. As the business owner, you should tie your choice of specialization (hair dressing, spa or makeup) to your psychological and mental capability than just the fact that you want to meet a need. If you're still not sure that you are in the right part of the industry you may want to take this test. Which Salon Business Should I focus on?

4. Very few people know that you have to clearly state the responsibilities for your stylist, cleaner, the apprentice, the nail technician we mean everyone who works for you. Do not assume people will come into your facility and know what to do; this is a mistake most business owners make. No matter how skilled a stylist or manager is; they do not know your salon culture. They are coming from a different system where things that worked for them may not work in your location or for your type of clients. You must have clear cut information in black and white that anyone who works with you must follow. This is why a lot of business owners shout and are not able to leave their businesses. For staff responsibilities and business structuring go to Recruiting for Salon Business

5. Trainings are part of your business and your salon must have training programs old , new staff and your vendors. Take courses like

How to train your staff and get them focused on the Job

6.More salon owners are not even aware that what sells most is the ability to get the client to buy an emotion that is connected to the service they are offering.

When people come to your salon they want to be beautiful, they want to be more confident than when they walked in. they are buying a desire from you and it is vanity. If you can't identify what need is embedded in the value you sell, you may not be able to charge premium.

These are some points that will help you sell better in 2019. Remember price isn't the reason you're not selling; you are not giving or communicating the right values to the right people.

For more enquiries about running or setting up professional salon businesses in 2019. Click on the salon 360 online course and register. This is your assurance to running a profitable business.

CAN WIGS CAUSE HAIRLOSS?

2017-10-24T15:38:00.000-07:00

I've got questions on my facebook and instagram handles asking me to address the issue of wig wearing & hair loss. I've been wearing wigs constantly for over 2 years so i can speak not only from a point of knowledge but experience as well. It is not all wigs that cause alopecia.

A good wig should fit comfortably not tightly as that can put a lot of tension round your hairline or inflame your follicles which may cause boils.

Let's address the wigs that are culpable for hair loss and know the wigs you need to avoid

1. Glue Lace wigs - this trend was the leading cause of traction & scarring alopecia in Nigeria about ten years ago. There are still cases of keloids and boils from previous wearers that has persisted till date and some never got their hair lines back.

2. U- part wigs - these wigs cause a form of traction alopecia that we jokingly call red-sea part. Here the hairloss occurs only at the point where the hair is constantly exposed. In severe cases it can become a bald spot. This is also common with people who wear extensions and leave out their hair often.

3. Wigs with clips or combs : Since most wigs come with the clips and combs, you may also notice that your hairloss may be from this trend. Anytime you clip your edges, tension is created as the strands clipped becomes the anchor for the wig. It's even worst if the wearer has corn rolls on. This action may not only pull but damage your follicles. And once that's done. Your edges will not grow again.

4. Very tight wigs: I see some wigs with custom made straps and also elastic bands attached to it. I understand it gives the flawless look of natural hair lines but it may not be healthy for your hairline

5. Following closely behind tight wigs are tight head gears (I still don't know how some women graceful go through that ordeal ). It does not only cause tension headaches, it can be uncomfortable at times and above all can lead to hair loss.

To wrap this up, i was asked to share my routine. First, All my wigs are glueless,they only have adjustable straps, no extra elastic or clips. I wear wigs for a maximum of 8 -10 hours ,4 days a week if I intend to use it as my protective style for a whole month.

Wig maintenance and care is another aspect of wigs that we must know if we consider using it as a protective style for a period of time.

So while we try to keep it trendy with wigs, we should also be mindful of the type of wigs we use and the kind of damage they can cause.

BEGINEER'S GUIDE TO HEALTHY HAIR CARE.

2017-09-29T16:18:00.001-07:00

Your hair is considered healthy when the damage is so minimal that you can retain the length at the ends and also volume. And to say that you have healthy hair, you must keep record of length especially and the general look, and volume every month and also the long term which is yearly. You should be able to see snapshots of your hair in years in different lengths.

But the key to achieving this is building a hair care regimen that is right for you. Never ever fall for “trending products or expensive products” hair answers to needs not wants.

You have to first identify what your hair needs before you spend the 1^st dime on a product

Here are some rules of thumb for healthy hair;

You have to be intentional when putting together your salon bag. What does my hair need? Is it fine or coarse?
How humid is my environment? This determines how often you moisturize your hair. Make sure your hair gets the right amount of moisture it needs.
My Protein & Moisture Treatment. This should be balanced. Never stock your bag with more of protein or moisture products. Balance is the right way to go.
To retain length, you must LEARN how to protect your ends. That means constantly wearing styles that will hide the tip of your hair. Its fragile because its exposed to UV, products and heat the longest.
Remember that a vital key to maintaining healthy hair and length means you cannot wear EVERY STYLE YOU LIKE. Some destroy your edges and other breaks your ends.
Did you know that what you eat and the health of your body actually affects your hair? Yes it does. Eat healthy and exercise more and watch your mane man out.

Enjoy your new healthy hair journey and please let us know if this helped you

Look out for the post on WHAT YOUR HAIR PRODUCT BAG SHOULD BE

WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU EXPERIENCE HAIR LOSS OR BREAKAGE - BEGINNER'S GUIDE

2017-09-24T08:53:00.001-07:00

I was doing a social media audit recently and I realized that I have come a long way in my pursuit to have healthy hair and wear extension that will compliment rather than replace my hair. I have sold, produced, customized, trained, and now I certify but I’m yet to scratch the surface of how best the African woman can manage her hair, with minimal damage, time and finances.

Our hair goals are constantly evolving with trend and as we become more aware of the dangers of some processes and styles. For some, this realization is a bit too late because they now suffer irreversible hair loss and damage.

I remember the first time I lost hair in large quantity. I was use to the normal hair on shoulder and the floor breakage; no big deal. But that morning I put a small tooth comb in my hair and looked down “WHAT!!!” it was as if I ran a clipper right through my head, 35% of my frontal hair was on the floor with a big bald patch that I had ignored for a while in clear view. I cried, I swore, I desperately picked up my phone and started typing every word related to massive hair loss. Trust the internet. I got answers from could be signs of terminal illness to ignore it, and it would grow back. Armed with zero information and damaged hair that I couldn’t hide. I set into depression and started investing in hair pieces, which at that time seemed like a solution.

Alopecia Areata and Hair Breakage

The first thing i did was to cut my hair hoping that regrowing would fix the problem. but as you can see, That wasn't the solution neither were the products ( i applied all sort, from the unnamed concotions to the very expensive brands ) i drank so much water, bought every hair vitamin that was advertised as hair booster. Nope, it didn't work and that was because I hadn't identified what caused the problem in the first place.

Hair after big chop

You see the thing about hair loss and breakage; there are always warning signs, the dry hair, stunted growth, rapid loss of moisture, change in natural hair color name it. The list is endless. They are always there but because most of our stylists are as ignorant as we are; we ignore them till it’s too late. Then we start looking for solutions like headless chickens, even trying the most unthinkable remedies. Some which worsen our situations.

This blog is specifically to help others avert some avoidable mistakes and also know how to manage them per adventure they are already experiencing hair loss or breakage. I learnt from my experience which I must admit was expensive and an emotional roller coaster.

Where we are with right information and care

So how do we know where to start from? Who to talk to and how to re-grow what we’ve lost. I’ve being down the whole nine yards. I will address hair loss, alopecia and hair breakage extensively in subsequent editions. If you have questions do comment and if they are private you can send your email to info@sayuhair.com let’s start with the baby steps.

HAIR DRESSING IN NIGERIA - THE CAREER

2017-09-20T10:44:00.001-07:00

The beauty industry in Nigeria has recently become a hub where educated men & women seek employment & business opportunities . This is quite evident in the number of persons who are in Hair business either selling the products or offering the services.

We have seen lots of resignations from coprate jobs by former employees turned entreprenuers to start businesses in the Hair Industry and they are doing just fine increasing the Nation's GDP.

The amazing part is the fact that we have more men becoming prominent in this once female dominanted sector and I dare say they are doinge quite well for themselves. ( Will do a post spotlighting some of them).

This is because the requirements for breaking-even is bordered around professionalism and presentation; yes we have more clients who are concerned about the total health of their hair and are also aware of the risks of unprofessional services.

Here are some statistics that should get young school leavers and job seekers thinking.

Professional stylists earn as much as N2,000,000.00 monthly and can double that amont in their peak seasons. For professional technicians, Trainers and consultants in Nigeria they can earn from N 500,000 and above for their services alone in that same month.

The job opportunities avaliable are limitless once you find or create your niche. The list goes on and on.

BUT to earn at this level one has to understand that Hair dressing is not a skill acquired without education.

It is a profession that is fully harnessed only by those who have acquired industry appropriate education.

Getting professional trainings like PHT certificate course or the IHPCC courses sets you apart from the rest in the industry.

These trainings are avaliable both online and classroom sessions.

For enquires email info@sayuhair.com and call +23497829980.

BLOGGER ANNIVERSARY - SIX YEARS LATER

2017-09-20T05:08:00.000-07:00

Six years later…..

I remember having this conversation with an amazing sister and friend Joyce Daniels sometime in January. We talked about exploring the social media as entrepreneurs and I mentioned that I had started a blog way back in 2011 and she encouraged me to start again. It’s amazing what having wonderful friends in your life can do. So that day we made a list of what I should talk about and guess what; the cold feet came and I shelved the idea for another eight months. Until I finally told myself its now or never and here we are.

The Journey

I actually dabbled into blogging, I didn’t have a clue as to how it worked, but I loved the idea of having an online diary. I was a bit reckless I must admit but I had fun and since I couldn’t make up my mind on what I wanted to do, it became an on & off venture till I got married in 2011 then stopped

The Break

Yes the break, then came family, children, relocation, new jobs and finding my feet as an entrepreneur. I must tell you it hasn’t an easy journey. I knew the path I wanted to take but I didn’t have a clear road map. So I was constantly groping in the dark.

The thing about not having a clear picture of where you are going puts you on the same boat as the person who doesn’t know what he/she wants; but this time you are more confused than they.

Finding my Road Map

I knew I loved hair, I started making extensions as a 13 year old JSS 3 (Junior Secondary School) leaver and sold them too. It was my passion, the fact that I could make something and someone paid for it was fascinating and as I grew older I developed other skills and certifications.

In the cause of building my career, I worked in the Hospitality, Para military, Oil & Gas, HR (Human Resources), Consultancy and Beauty industries. I’m really grateful I had the opportunity to serve in all these industries because my experiences helped build the structure I have today.

I had to do a soul search to find that one thing I could do without complain, reason or incentive and it came back to my love for hair.

The New Chapter

Being passionate about a product or service is totally different from making a business out of it and this is where most of us get stuck. We love it, we do it, we are passionate about it, but it’s not yielding the finances we know it has the potential to (topic for another day)

When I decided to go back to my passion, I first sort for PROFESSIONAL education in the field because I wanted to make a career out of it. My passion and knowledge were not enough to make a reality out of my vision; I needed to know more so I started from the top.

Yes, I paid premium to become a Certified Hair Practitioner, to understand hair and scalp problems, to consult and treat hair loss/ damage; to train aspiring professional stylists, set up professional Hair salons and give people clarity on the Entrepreneurial aspect of running a beauty Salon.

The journey isn’t easy I must tell you, but now I have a road map and I know exactly where I am going to.

For everyone who has for any reason stalled their vision or dream. Its never too late; start by talking to someone. Talk to me.